Evaluation of Lathyrus (Lathyrus cicera) as an ingredient in diets for weaner pigs
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
2000
Conference Title
Proceedings of the Nutrition Society of Australia
Keywords
pigs, swine, nutrition
Disciplines
Meat Science
Abstract
Legumes are an important source of energy and protein in pig diets. Currently Australian Sweet Lupins (ASL) are used extensively to formulate pig diets in Western Australia as a cost-effective source of plant protein in place of imported soybean meal. Lathyrus species have been avoided as a feed ingredient because of the presence of neurotoxin 3-(-N-oxalyl)-L-2,3-diamino propionic acid (ODAP) which causes paralysis of the lower limbs. Recently developed Lathyrus cicera cultivars have very low ODAP levels, and while they contain less crude protein than ASL (27 vs 32%) they have relatively more total lysine (.16 vs 1.3%) (1). As lysine is usually the first limiting amino acid in pig diets, the higher lysine content of L. cicera compared to ASL and other plant proteins makes it attractive as a protein source for pig diets.
Recommended Citation
Trezona, M,
Mullan, B P,
Pluske, J R,
Hanbury, C,
and
Siddique, K H.
(2000), Evaluation of Lathyrus (Lathyrus cicera) as an ingredient in diets for weaner pigs, Proceedings of the Nutrition Society of Australia.
https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/conf_papers/223
