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Abstract
1. The gross composition of Lathyrus sativus was examined, and its use as a foodstuff for growing chicks over time as well as the influence of supplementation with certain amino acid combinations were studied.
2. Chemical analyses indicated lathyrus to be high in crude protein with adequate concentrations of most inorganic elements and amino acids except methionine and cystine.
3. The performance of growing chicks fed 800 g/kg lathyrus over a four week period was significantly poorer than those given a wheat/ soyabean meal‐based diet (P<0.05), but there appeared to be some adaptation to the antinutritive factors in the lathyrus.
4. Chick performance was markedly improved by dietary methionine supplementation alone (P<0.05); it was slightly better when trypto‐phan was added in combination with methionine but was still inferior to that on a wheat/soyabean meal‐based diet.
5. Supplementation of lathyrus‐based diets with methionine and tryto‐phan may improve chick performance, but it is not sufficient to overcome the effects of antinutritive factors in the legume.