The Nutritional Value of Khesari (Lathyrus sativus) for Growing and Laying Pullets

Abstract

The nutritional value of khesari (Lathyrus sativus), a grain legume, was determined for growing and laying pullets. Chemical analyses indicated khesari to be high in crude protein (,2-g/kg) and low in fat (+,.* g/kg) with estimated true metabolizable energy concentration of +,.* MJ/kg. Four hundred Shaver /13 brown pullets belonging to same source were randomly assigned to. dietary treatments with +** pullets each. Least-cost isocaloric and isonitrogenous diet containing raw khesari at *, +**, +/* or ,** g/kg were formulated and fed to grower and pullet developer birds separately during +,ῌ+2 weeks and +3ῌ,, weeks respectively. This was followed by feeding layer diets during ,-ῌ-. weeks of age. The performance of grower chicks during +,ῌ+2 wks of age showed no significant e#ect on body weight gain and FCR but feed intake increased linearly (Pῌ *.*/) and di#ered significantly when the dietary level of raw khesari was ,** g/kg. On the other hand, during +3ῌ,, weeks, the birds showed increased body weight gain and feed intake and improved FCR (Pῌ*.*+) when they consumed the highest level of khesari (,** g/kg). Layer performance in terms of egg production, egg mass and FCR were declined as the dietary levels of khesari was increased showing a clear-cut linear e#ect. It was concluded from the study that khesari supported growth performance in pullets either similar to or better than the control birds at the levels tested and that it is well tolerable for layers up to +/* g/kg dietary level without experiencing any remarkable deleterious e#ects. Khesari did not show any symptoms typical to lathyrism in both grower and layer birds at the levels tested.

Evaluation of selected mutants of grasspea (<i>Lathyrus sativus</i> L.) var. Krab as an ingredient in broiler chicken diet

“…It is much lower than 12.5 MJ/kg DM, on average, reported for pea varieties (Smulikowska et al, 2001). It seems that the values 11.3 MJ ME/kg of L. sativus for poultry estimated by Latif et al (1976) and Hanbury et al (2000), as well as 12 MJ TME/kg estimated by Chowdhury et al (2005) might be too high.…”

“…Grasspea (Lathyrus sativus L.), also known under other common names (fl at pea, everlasting pea, chickling pea, chickling vetch, khesari), is a very important source of protein grown as a pulse crop in some warm temperate and subtropical areas (Smartt et al, 1994;Chowdhury et al, 2005). It was already in use in Neolithic times and presently is considered a model crop for sustainable agriculture, as it may be grown on non-irrigated marginal land and is more resistant than other pulses to drought and fl oods, as well as to insect attack (Vaz Patto et al, 2006).…”

“…Latif et al (1976) reported that the AME value of L. sativus for poultry was 11.3 MJ/kg DM, while Chowdhury et al (2005) estimated it at 12 MJ/kg. Low et al (1990) did not fi nd any symptoms of lathyrism in chickens fed a diet with 82% of L. sativus, while Rotter et al (1991) reported that performance of broiler chickens decreased with increased L. sativus levels in the diet.…”

Effect of different levels of raw and heated grass pea seed (Lathyrus sativus) on nutrient digestibility, intestinal villus morphology and growth performance of broiler chicks

“…It is well known that approximately 90 per cent of total feed cost is used to meet energy and protein requirements of poultry (FAO, ). Supplying the traditional energy and protein sources (maize, soya bean meal and fish meal) is costly in developing countries, and for this reason during the two last decades, there has been keen interest for finding and evaluating alternative local feed resources (Chowdhury et al., ; Trombetta et al., ; FAO, ).…”

“…Chowdhury et al. (), who studied the nutritional value of grass pea seed for growing and laying pullets, concluded that it may support growth performance of pullets either similar to or better than the control group. They reported that grass pea seed up to 150 g/kg diet was well tolerated for laying hens without any deleterious effects, and there were no symptoms of lathyrism in both grower and laying pullets.…”