Legume Grains as an Alternative to Soybean Meal in the Diet of Intensively Reared Dairy Ewes

Sotiria Vouraki (), Vasiliki Papanikolopoulou, Maria Irakli, Zoi Parissi, Eleni M. Abraham and Georgios Arsenos
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Sotiria Vouraki: Laboratory of Animal Husbandry, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Vasiliki Papanikolopoulou: Laboratory of Animal Husbandry, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Maria Irakli: Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, Hellenic Agricultural Organization—Dimitra, Thermi, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
Zoi Parissi: Laboratory of Range Science, School of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Development, Aristotle University, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Eleni M. Abraham: Laboratory of Range Science, School of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Development, Aristotle University, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Georgios Arsenos: Laboratory of Animal Husbandry, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 2, 1-13

Abstract: Grain legumes are feedstuffs with high nutritional value that could replace soybean in dairy sheep nutrition. This could be beneficial in terms of economic efficiency and environmental sustainability. However, research regarding their potential effects on animal performance is scarce. The objective was to assess milk production and body condition score (BCS) of intensively reared dairy ewes after replacing soybean meal with a mixture of lupin, pea, vetch, and faba bean in their ration. A total of 40 Chios dairy ewes were randomly selected. They were allocated in two (n = 20) groups C and T; both were fed same amounts of Lucerne hay and wheat straw as well as a concentrate feed that was formulated with either inclusion of soybean meal for Group C or a mixture of legumes for Group T. Both feeds had equal energy and protein contents. Data collection was performed every 15 days for a 60-day period (a total of five measurements). In each measurement, ewe BCS was assessed, milk yield was recorded electronically, and individual milk samples were collected to assess chemical composition (fat, protein, lactose, and solids-non-fat content); energy corrected milk yield and milk components yield were calculated. Moreover, feed refusals from each group were weighed to calculate feed intake. Average individual daily concentrate feed intake was lower in Group T compared to C. Nutritional management did not significantly affect ( p > 0.05) milk production and BCS. An exception was the last measurement where ewes in Group T had significantly ( p < 0.05) higher milk protein, lactose and SNF yield, and lactose content. Results suggest that the studied legumes could replace soybean without compromising productivity of intensively reared dairy ewes.

Keywords: dairy ewes; legumes; soybean; milk production; body condition score (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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