Assessing the impact of lupin meals on the development of Fleckvieh bulls

Bolatito Omitoogun

Master's thesis

Abstract:

In response to the growing demand for sustainable protein sources in livestock farming due to increasing global population and environmental concerns, alternative feed options like Lupinus species, including white lupin and yellow lupin, have gained attention. This research investigates the impact of Lupinus albus (white lupin) and Lupinus luteus (yellow lupin) meals on the growth and development of Fleckvieh bulls, a dual-purpose cattle breed. The study aimed to assess the potential of lupin-based diets as alternative protein sources in cattle nutrition, and their effects on growth efficiency and reproductive tract development. Thirty Fleckvieh bulls were divided into three treatment groups (one treatment per pen, with 10 animals per treatment): a control group fed a conventional diet, a group fed a diet containing Lupinus albus (white lupin) meal, and a group fed a diet containing Lupinus luteus (yellow lupin) meal as the primary protein source. The bulls' feeding behaviour, growth performance, and post-mortem reproductive tract morphology, sperm quality, and biochemical parameters of the seminal vesicle fluid were evaluated. The research revealed that bulls fed a control diet exhibited significantly higher body weights, greater average daily gains (ADG), and improved feed conversion ratios (FCR) compared to those fed lupin-based diets. However, certain parameters related to sperm quality, particularly the percentage of live sperm, showed potential positive effects with lupin diets, especially Lupinus albus. Although some effects of the lupin diets were observed in reproductive tract morphology, namely prostate weights and live sperm percentages, and some biochemical parameters among the diet groups suggested potential effects of lupin-based diets on reproductive gland fluid composition and sperm quality. Given these findings, it is imperative to exercise caution in considering lupin-based diets for cattle, particularly young bulls, due to the observed effects on growth and potential impacts on reproductive parameters. Further research is needed to investigate the long-term effects of lupin species on bull development. Additionally, future studies should explore non-nutritive components, processing techniques, and optimal inclusion levels of these lupin meals that would not compromise growth performance while assessing their suitability as alternative protein sources in cattle diets.

Keywords

alternative protein, fleckvieh bulls, growth performance, Lupinus albus, Lupinus luteus, reproductive development

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 28. 4. 2024

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 3. 6. 2024
• Supervisor: doc. Tersia Needham, Ph.D.
• Reader: Helet Lambrechts, externi

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences

Master programme / specializace:
Wildlife and Livestock Production, Management and Conservation / Sustainable Animal Production