Nutrient Intake, Fermentation, Digestibility and Growth Performance of Barbarin Lamb Supplemented with Sweet Lupin

This study aims to evaluate the effect of white lupine seeds as a substitute for soybean meal in the diets of Twenty-four 6 and a half monthold Barbarine lambs (average initial weight 23 kg) were divided into three equal groups. Three types of concentrates, the first two of which were iso-nitrogenous, were formulated as follows: CC1 containing 75% barley, 22.5% soybean meal and 2.5%mineral and vitamin supplement; CC2 containing lupine as a substitute for soybeans; and CC3 containing only barley and CMV (This is the concentrated 1 devoid of soybean meal). In addition to the hay that was distributed ad libitum, animals assigned to the first and the second group received daily, 500 g of concentrate 1 and 500g of concentrate 2, respectively. Those assigned to the third one received alternately concentrate 2 (day1) and concentrate 3 (day2). Experiment period was divided in a growth period (80 days) followed by a digestible period (10 days). Diet had no significant effect on total dry matter and water intakes, average daily gain, diet digestibility and microbial synthesis (P > 0.05). For the nitrogen balance, the animals showed different retained nitrogen level (P < 0.05). Fermentation parameters were not affected by protein source. However, only the number of protozoa was influenced by the day of fluid collection (P < 0.05). It can be concluded that lupine grains can substitute safely soybean meal in diets of Barbarine lambs.