White lupine is a suitable feed component in rabbit diets: A review

Abstract

The paper reports the recent results regarding a possible utilization of white lupine seeds (Lupinus albus cv. Amiga) for rabbit feeds. The white lupine based diets were compared with the diets containing a commonly used protein sources, i.e. soybean or sunflower meals. The range of white lupine dietary inclusion used in different experiments varied between 60 and 250 g.kg-1. The main attention was focused on the growth performance, total tract apparent digestibility of diets, digestive health and meat quality of growing-fattening rabbits, as well as rabbit doe milk yield and milk composition, and the growth of their progeny. No adverse effect of feeding white lupine-based diets on the average daily weight gain, feed intake, final live weight, or feed conversion ratio of growing-fattening rabbits, as well as milk production was observed. Due to its fatty acid composition, the dietary inclusion of white lupine has the potential to change both meat and milk fatty acid profile in a beneficial way, without the need for the addition of dietary fat. Protein source did not affect the total tract apparent digestibility of crude protein and gross energy. From the point of view of chemical composition and performance, white lupine is the important component for rabbit feeds.