Control of ovine lupinosis: experiments on the making of lupin hay

Lupin hay was prepared at 2 locations and conserved in fodder rolls and bales until late summer. At this time it was found that the lupin hay had lower levels of infection with P. leptostromiformis and had developed virtually no toxicity, when compared with adjacent normal lupin stubble which was very heavily infected with Phomopsis and very toxic. No additional advantage was gained by spraying cut lupins with formalin before rolling or bailing. It is suggested that the preparation of lupin hay as described provides farmers who do not harvest their lupins for seed with a way of utilising lupin crops for summer feed, while significantly reducing the risk of lupinosis in stock.