Feeding high lupine based diets for broiler chickens: Effect of soybean meal substitution with yellow lupine meal at various time points of growth cycle

The present work examined the potential benefits and limitations of yellow lupine seeds meal (LM) as a substitute for soybean meal (SBM) in broiler diets. The experimental work was focused on evaluation of effects of dietary lupine introduced in the diet at various time points of the growth. The nutritional efficacy of LM for broiler chickens was evaluated using performance parameters including body mass gain, feed conversion ratio, and carcass analysis. Breast muscle was subjected to color and chemical analyzes. Patho-physiological variables monitored in response to LM included overt livability, morbidity, mortality, and morphometry of key organs involved in digestive processes.Complete replacement of SBM with LM in the broiler diet introduced at days 1, 8, and 15 resulted in significant decline of feed intake and growth rate (both P < 0.05). High level of LM in the diet for young chickens caused enlargement of the liver, pancreas, gizzard, and intestines (all P < 0.05). Chickens fed a LM based diet did not show gross changes in carcass quality or yield of main commercially important parts (breast muscle and leg quarters), but showed increased (P < 0.05) carcass proportion of giblets and fat pad. Also, LM slightly decreased breast muscle protein content and increased muscle fat content (P < 0.05), but it is noteworthy that fat from LM fed broilers had more desirable profile of fatty acids.Although nutritional characteristic of LM appeared to be comparable to SBM, its nutritional potential cannot be completely utilized by young chickens. Complete substitution of SBM with LM in diet for broilers during first stages of growth is not realistic, because of it would considerably lower the nutritional efficiency of the ration and would have detrimental effects on performance. In conclusion, from a practical stand point, LM based diet for broilers during the first 3 weeks of growth is not recommended, but the LM based diet during later stages of growth (4 weeks and onwards) can be used in the broiler ration without risks of compromising production parameters or health.