The potential of Lupinus angustifolius cv. Uniharvest, in Canterbury, as a summer greenfeed for lambs

Abstract

Two trials using Lupinus angustifolius cv. Uniharvest were conducted in the summer of 1978-1979 at Lincoln College, Canterbury. From the first trial, designed to measure dry matter accumulation and changing nutritive value of lupins with time, a maximum dry matter yield of just under 990 kg ha⁻¹ was obtained 150 days after sowing. Peak digestibility was 65.0 per cent and was recorded at 125 days after sowing. Protein concentration was highest in the young plant (28.75 per cent at 45 days after sowing) and declined after this, but highest total nitrogen yield coincided with peak dry matter accumulation. In the second trial, lupins at 60 and 100 plants m⁻² were grazed with weaned lambs at each of four successive stages of the plants' growth - pre-flower, primary flower, secondary flower and green pod (post-flower). Highest dry matter accumulation,at just under 1 000 g m⁻², occurred at the green pod stage, and peak protein concentration of 23.7 per cent at the pre-flower stage (lower density). Digestibility was highest at the pre-flower stage (higher density) and the metabolizable energy concentration was also highest in the pre-flower high density plots. Regrowth of lupins following grazing occurred in plots which had been grazed at the pre- and primary flower stage. Maximum total dry matter accumulation from the first grazing combined with the regrowth was 1 350 g m⁻². Digestibility, protein and metabolizable energy concentration of the regrowth was at acceptable levels for animal growth. From the results obtained, and those of other workers, both in New Zealand and overseas, it is suggested that lupins may have considerable potential as a high quality summer forage crop for grazing of young lambs.