R. G. Rotter

The nutritional value of low lathyrogenic Lathyrus (Lathyrus sativus) for growing chicks

Abstract 1. The feeding value of new low β‐N‐oxalyl‐amino‐L‐alanine (BOAA) lines of Lathyrus sativus (lathyrus) and the benefits of dehulling the seed or of pre‐adapting chicks to lathyrus‐based diets were examined in several experiments. 2. Chicks fed on diets containing 400 g/kg of the low (1.3 g BOAA/kg seed) and medium (2.2 g BOAA/kg seed) BOAA lines did not differ (P>0.05) in weight gain (WG) or in apparent fat and protein digestibilities compared to birds fed on a wheat‐based diet. 3. Consumption of 600 g low BOAA lathyrus/kg diet caused a slight, but significant (P 0.05). 5. Pre‐adapting chicks for 7 d to diets containing up to 600 g medium line lathyrus/kg diet did not reduce the detrimental effects of the lathyrus. 6. Although ...

Use of Lathyrus Sativus L. (var. seminis albi) as a foodstuff for poultry

Abstract 1. The gross composition of Lathyrus sativus was examined, and its use as a foodstuff for growing chicks over time as well as the influence of supplementation with certain amino acid combinations were studied. 2. Chemical analyses indicated lathyrus to be high in crude protein with adequate concentrations of most inorganic elements and amino acids except methionine and cystine. 3. The performance of growing chicks fed 800 g/kg lathyrus over a four week period was significantly poorer than those given a wheat/ soyabean meal‐based diet (P<0.05), but there appeared to be some adaptation to the antinutritive factors in the lathyrus. 4. Chick performance was markedly improved by dietary methionine supplementation alone (P<0.05); it was slightly better when trypto‐phan was added in combination with methionine but was still inferior to that on a wheat/soyabean meal‐based diet. 5. Supplementation of lathyrus‐based diets with methionine and tryto‐phan may improve chick performance, but it is not sufficien...