Lupin oligosaccharides: Nutrients or anti-nutrients?

Two AME bioassay studies were conducted to evaluate the nutritive value of ethanol extracted lupin meal. In experiment 1, groups of four birds per cage were fed four semi-purified diets containing untreated and oligosaccharide-reduced, ethanol extracted lupin meal from two cultivars of 'L. angustifolius' (cv Gungurru and cv Danja). No significant differences in feed conversion and excreta moisture content were observed among the diets. AME was significantly reduced in diets containing ethanol extracted lupin kernels. Ileal digesta viscosity was significantly increased by removal of oligosaccharides. The second experiment was conducted as a single bird AME bioassay involving four dietary treatments: untreated and ethanol extracted meals of two lupin species ('L. angustifolius' cv Gungurru and 'L. albus' cv Kiev mutant). AME and dry matter digestibility of 'L. angustifolius' was significantly reduced by removal of oligosaccharides. No such differences were found in diets containing 'L. albus'.