Nutritional potential of faba bean for improved productivity in ruminants - a review
1996
Tewatia, B.S. | Virk, A.S. (CCS HAU, Hisar (India). Dept. of Animal Nutrition)
This review article presents the potential of faba bean for growing and lactating ruminants, including the role and effects of antinutritional factors and their detoxification procedures. As a rich source of protein and vitamins, faba bean holds good nutritional potential to replace some conventional protein supplements in ruminant feed. The nutrient composition of faba bean is favorable compared with other pulses. Although the lipid content of faba bean is low (0.9-4.2 percent), linoleic acid constitutes more than 50 percent of total lipids. Faba bean protein is highly soluble in the rumen, highly degradable, and is comparable to urea. Extrusion of faba bean at 120 centigrade significantly reduced the rumen degradation of protein for its efficient utilization. Protection of faba bean protein using 1.0-1.5 g formaldehyde per 100 g faba bean protein significantly improved the nitrogen retention and body weight gains of growing kids. High levels of formaldehyde improved feed conversion efficiency and nitrogen balance. The presence of antinutritional factors like tannins, trypsin inhibitors and favism-inducing agents in faba bean sometimes limit its use as animal feed; however, no adverse effect on animal health or production was observed. Further, these antinutritional factors can be reduced either by breeding or by various processing techniques. Faba bean can successfully replace 45-60 percent of conventional protein sources in the diets of growing and lactating ruminants
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