Abstract
Leaf protein concentrate (LPC) samples were prepared from four pulse crops, goat’s rue, pea, field bean and Persian clover. Their proximate composition was 42.5— 53.4 % crude protein, 2.1—7.9 % ether extract and 1.0—3.0 % crude fibre. The lysine content was 4.1—4.8 g/ 16 g N, that of sulphur amino acids 2.0—2.8 g and that of threonine 4.5—4.8 g. The contents of tannins varied from 2.2 to 5.5 %. The nutritional values of the LPC samples were assesed in digestibility and balance trials with male chickens of 16—18 weeks, LPC composing 25 % of the diets. LPC from pea had the highest digestibilities of organic matter (70.3 %), crude protein (77.6 %) and carbohydrates (54.9 %), while LPC from Persian clover had the lowest (P < 0.01). The true digestibilities of crude protein for goat’s rue, pea, field bean and Persian clover were, respectively, 70.0, 82.2, 69,7 and 56.8 % (P < 0.01). The digestibilities of nutrients in the present LPC samples were rather low compared to their minimal crude fibre content. A reason for this may be the contents of tannins. The AMEN values for the LPC’s of goat’s rue, pea, field bean and Persian clover were, respectively, 10.79, 13.15, 9.80 and 9.18 (P < 0.01). The gross energy metabolization ranged from 42.6 to 57.0 %.
Highlights
The increasing cost of nitrogenous fertilizers and the need to develop domestic sources of protein for animal consumption have renewed interest in pulse crops in Finland
leaf protein concentrates (LPC) was prepared under optimal conditions (Morris 1977, Pirie 1978)
LPC from lucerne has given performance equal to that obtained with soybean meal with poultry (Kuzmicky and Kohler 1977) and pigs (Cheeke et al 1977)
Summary
Peas and field beans have been found to be good sources of protein for pigs and poultry (Alaviuhkola 1979, Kiiskinen 1982). These losses could be avoided and the protein in plant tissues utilised for monogastrics by combining silage making with leaf protein production by extracting protein from the crop prior to ensiling. The true digestibility and biological value of the leaf protein concentrates (LPC) obtained from some green crops have been found to be high when the. Index words: Leaf protein, protein supplement, poultry nutrition, digestibility and metabolizable energy value. In diets for poultry LPC has value as a source of pigment (Yoshida and Hoshii 1981), since its xanthophyll content is high
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