| Locust Bean. |
| Introduction |
| Product obtained by crushing the dried
fruits (Pods) of the carob tree from which the locust
beans have been removed. When the bean is ripe, the flesh
of the seed is removed to leave a seed. It is either used
for animal feed or for alcohol production and may be
ground with the pod. |
| Origin |
| Mediterranean countries and sub-tropical
regions |
| Nutritional Information |
| High in sugars (+40%), it is extremely
palatable and usually added to coarse mixes to improve
palatability. It is often poorly digested. It is commonly
used in coarse mixes, for its appearance and palatability.
|
| Colour/Texture |
| Dark brown, usually in flake form. |
| Palatability |
| Good. |
| Limits on Usage |
| Part of its protein may be in the form of
tannins (tannic acid) reducing digestibility. Rich in
sugar and can, therefore, increase risk of acidosis in
ruminants. |
| Recommended Maximum Inclusion Rates % |
| Calf |
0 |
Creep |
0 |
Chick |
0 |
| Dairy |
10 |
Weaner |
0 |
Broiler |
2.5 |
| Beef |
12.5 |
Grower |
2.5 |
Breeder |
5 |
| Lamb |
5 |
Finisher |
5.0 |
Layer |
5 |
| Ewe |
10 |
Sow |
7.5 |
|
|
|
| Handling/Storage |
| Difficult to grind due to high sugar
levels. |