Lupins score well

8 March 2002

Lupins score well

SPRING lupins cost less to grow, produced the highest protein and energy densities and out-yielded peas and beans in a whole-crop pulse trial at Harper Adams College, Shropshire.

Six varieties of peas and three each of beans and lupins were grown last year. Francis Dunne of Oliver Seeds, which commissioned the trial says lupins were undoubtedly the stars of the whole show.

"But growing the crops is only half the battle. We have experience of ensiling and feeding whole-crop peas, but more work is needed on the characteristics of beans and lupins. Producers must be able to turn pulses into stable silage with high palatability and nutrient density," he adds. &#42