Nutritional value of chickpeas in rations of lactating ewes and growing lambs

In two experiments, with 60 lactating Chios ewes and 72 growing Florina (Pelagonia) lambs, the effect of partial and total replacement of soybean meal with chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L.) on productivity and composition of milk or meat was determined. In experiment 1, which lasted 12 weeks, ewes were allocated, after equal distribution for milk yield, body weight (BW) and lactation number, into three groups being CHKPEA0, CHKPEA120, and CHKPEA240 of 20 ewes each. Ewes in all groups were offered a concentrate mixture (1.15 kg/ewe/d, dry matter-DM-basis) and alfalfa hay (0.90 kg/ewe/d, DM basis). Soybean meal and chickpeas were present in the concentrate mixture in the inclusions (as fed basis): 100-0, 50-120, and 0-240 kg/t for groups CHKPEA0, CHKPEA120, and CHKPEA240, respectively. There were no differences among groups in average milk yield (1575 g/d), or milk fat (59.1 g/kg), protein (56.9 g/kg), lactose (49.3 g/kg) and ash (9.0 g/kg) contents. In experiment 2, which lasted 12 weeks, lambs were allocated to three groups (CHKPEA0, CHKPEA125, and CHKPEA250) of 24 lambs (12 male and 12 female each). Male and female lambs had an initial BW of 16.0, and 16.2 kg, respectively, and were fed a concentrate mixture (ad libitum) and alfalfa hay (0.36 kg/lamb/d, DM basis). Soybean meal and chickpeas were present in concentrate mixture in the inclusions (as fed basis): 140-0, 70-125, and 0-250 kg/t for groups CHKPEA0, CHKPEA125, and CHKPEA250, respectively. Male lambs grew faster than female lambs. No differences occurred among chickpea inclusion groups in final BW, BW gain, DM intake, or feed conversion ratio. Males had heavier carcasses, and most carcass components, than females, but there were no differences in fasted BW, cold carcass weight and carcass yield among groups. Isonitrogenous and isoenergetic partial and total replacement of soybean meal with chickpeas did not affect the productive performance of lactating ewes or growing lambs.