Composition and protein quality of sweet lupin seed

The proportion of seed coats (hulls) of four varieties of sweet lupin seeds ranged from 19 to 25%. The amount of hull varied inversely with the weight of the seed, within each variety. Lupinus luteus cv Weiko III had 40.1% protein (dry basis); of 3 cultivars of L. angustifolius cv Uniharvest had the highest protein (36.2%), while cv Uniwhite had the lowest (28.6%). The protein content of dehulled lupins was about 20% higher than that of the whole seeds. L. angustifolius cv Uniwhite and L. luteus cv Weiko III were analysed for moisture, protein, lipid, ash, fibre, amino acids, carbohydrates, calcium, phosphorus, zinc, iron, copper and manganese. Whole seed, hulls and kernels were examined. Sulphur amino acids were limiting. The protein efficiency ratios of the two varieties, supplemented with methionine, were 2.40 and 2.56, respectively; these values increased by about 10% when the protein of the dehulled lupin seeds were tested. The requirement for added methionine for maximum p.e.r. was 0.65 g/kg diet. When dehulled lupin seed was steeped in water for a day and boiled and included in the diet of rats, slightly superior growth and p.e.r. resulted. The two varieties of dehulled lupin seeds effectively supplemented the protein of barley meal in the diet of rats, especially when methionine supplements were added, but were less efficient in supplemental value than was casein.