The Use of Faba Bean and Sweet Lupin Seeds Alone or in Combination for Growing Lambs. 1. Effects on Growth Performance, carcass Traits, and Blood Parameters

The study investigates faba bean and lupin seeds when used alone or in combination as protein supplements for growing lambs, and their effects on growth, carcass characteristics, and hematological traits. Twentyfour Gentile di Puglia male lambs were weaned at 38  2 days of age, and divided into three homogeneous groups, based on body weight (BW). For eight weeks before slaughter, the lambs were assigned to one of three isoenergetic and isonitrogenous dietary treatments, differing in the protein supplement: a faba bean diet (FB) containing 300 g/kg diet (on as fed basis) of faba bean seeds; a faba bean plus lupin diet (FB+L) containing 150 g/kg diet of faba bean seeds plus 150 g/kg diet of lupin seeds (both on as fed basis); a lupin diet (L) containing 250 g/kg diet of lupin seeds (on as fed basis). Individual body weights and feed intakes were recorded weekly to calculate average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI) and feed conversion ratio. In the 1st and 8th weeks of the trial, blood samples were taken in order to measure glucose, total cholesterol, NEFA, creatinine, urea and total protein concentration and respective electrophoresis fractions. Carcass traits and tissue composition of leg and loin were determined. Slaughter body weight was lower for lambs fed on diets containing lupin than for lambs fed on diets containing faba beans. In Group L, ADG was lower than FB and FB+L groups. Group L lambs had lower ADFI than the other two groups. For Group FB lambs, loin weight was a higher percentage of half carcass weight than for Groups L and FB+L lambs. Leg and loin dissection data showed Group L lambs to have a greater percentage of bone in the leg than Group FB+L lambs. Group L lambs had higher concentrations of urea than the other two groups at the end of the trial. The use of lupin alone was associated with lower growth performances whereas, when lupin is given with faba bean the results suggest positive effects.