UK Reserachers Push Lupins as Feed

LONDON - Mar 30/15 - SNS -- Researchers in the United Kingdom believe lupins are a viable alternative to soybean meal in livestock feed and urging farmers in the country to increase prodyction.

The three-year, business-led study involved 10 industrial partners and two research institutes (Birchgrove Eggs, Alltech, Alvan Blanch, Ecomarine, Germinal, Kelvin Cave, PGRO, Soya UK, The Arable Group (TAG), Wynnstay Group PLC and the Universities of Aberystwyth and Plymouth).

The aim of the project was to look at sweet (edible) lupins which are high in protein as a viable UK-grown alternative protein source to go into animal and fish feeds to replace as far as possible, and ideally up to 100%, the soya protein component. Lupins also offer the additional benefit of their ability to fix nitrogen, resulting in reduced inputs for following crops. Partners used the 3-year project life to carry out a number of scientifically rigorous experiments and commercial studies.

The project has led to better understanding of the agronomy of lupins in the UK and shows that modern varieties of lupin give more reliable yields and are earlier maturing than those previously available. The project has shown some likely benefits to growers in providing an alternative crop in the rotation, and with recent CAP reforms, the potential to gain from the addition of a nitrogen fixing crop, or a third crop.

Project research into overcoming current contraints to utilising lupins as an alternative source of portein for the poultry, ruminant and aquaculture uindustries has shown that yellow or narrow-leafed lupins are effective substitutes for soya protein in concentrate feeds. Details of the individual studies can be accessed below.