Economic efficiency of the production of fatteners fed blue lupine as a replacement for GM soybean meal

Abstract

The aim of the study was to estimate the basic production parameters and economic efficiency of fattening pigs when GM soybean meal is replaced with increasing proportions of blue lupine, as a native Polish plant source of protein. The experimental material comprised 50 fatteners divided into a control group (C) and four experimental groups (E1, E2, E3 and E4), with 10 pigs per group. Basic fattening parameters, i.e. daily weight gain and feed consumption per kg of body weight gain, were very good: 1201–1272 g and 2.35–2.59 kg/kg, respectively. These parameters were slightly better in group C than in the experimental groups. Comparison of the costs incurred and revenue obtained showed that the production of fatteners was found to be unprofitable, assuming market prices for the feed materials used, including lupine seeds. The financial result was a consequence of market determinants independent of the producer. The use of unprocessed lupine seeds as a replacement for GM soybean meal in fattening pigs proved to be clearly unprofitable.

Keywords

• fatteners
• nutrition
• replacement for GM soybean meal – blue lupine
• production efficiency