They are often used for sheep as a supplement for poor quality basal diets (Anele et al., 2010). Nodulation appears to improve with good soil moisture and lower soil temperatures. Effect of cowpea hay, groundnut hay, cotton seed meal and maize meal supplementation to maize stover on intake, digestibility, microbial protein supply and acetate kinetics in weaner lambs. Cowpea is a fast growing and versatile legume providing good grazing, silage and hay options for producers. World Rabbit Science, 4 (1): 11-14, Prasad, R.; Karim, S. A.; Patnayak, B. C., 1996. Nutritional evaluation of tropical legume and cereal forages grown in Pakistan. Red Ripper is adapted to a wide range of soils, but prefers well drained soils with a pH between … When cowpea hay is dried in good conditions, with a minimum of leaf-shedding, its nutritive value is equivalent to that of alfalfa as a source of protein and fibre. He would probably be shocked to learn that his cattle, slaves and sharecroppers were enjoying such a nutritious diet. * Protein is measured as crude protein. Cattle seen as agriculture’s long-term solution January 7, 2021. Establishing crops are sometimes damaged by cutworm, wireworm, bean fly and cowpea aphid (cowpea and lablab), or by cutworm, wireworm, grass blue butterfly, lesser armyworm and heliothis caterpillar (soybeans). Soybeans (Glycine max) are also very useful forage and hay crops in some situations. Cowpea is native to central Africa. It has white flowers, and more obvious hairs on the leaves than does Highworth. In the late summer, the Red Ripper Cowpeas will produce seed … Asian-Aust. sinensis (L.)Hassk., Vigna sinensis (L.) Savi ex Hausskn. A. ; Dim, N. I., 1986. Cowpeas consist of an average of 24% … Monkshood, Aconite, Wolfsbane: humans, cattle, goats Growth performance of broiler rabbits maintained on diets with varying levels of energy and protein. They inhibit nitrogen-fixing, a key characteristic of legumes such as cowpeas. Nutrient intake, digestion and utilization by rabbits fed cowpea hull and soybean hull based diets. Cowpeas and lablab can be sown when danger of frost is over, and when soil temperatures reach a steady 18°C at sowing depth at 9 am Eastern Standard Summer Time (E.S.S.T.) When using furrows on sloping country, ensure that sowing is on the contour to prevent erosion. Press wheels can improve crop establishment. Soils with low to medium levels of phosphate, require 125 to 150 kg single superphosphate/ha, or the equivalent in concentrated fertiliser. Source: Feeds Evaluation Unit, NSW Agriculture. Provided crops are properly nodulated, cowpeas and lablab can fix 20 to 140 kg residual nitrogen/ha into the soil. The cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) Description: Fast growing, annual legume suitable for grazing or crop rotations. Leaf and leaf stalk make up about half of this. Sow cowpeas at 10 to 14 kg/ha of good quality seed under dryland conditions, with 18 to 35 cm row spacings, to give a plant population of 90,000 to 130,000 plants/ha (9 to 13 plants/square metre). Once the plants have matured, they will attract insects that turkeys depend upon for their diet. Muldoon, D. K. (1985). Rabbit Res., 13 (1): 32-34, Prasad, R.; Singh, G.; Patnayak, B. C., 1996. This ensiling process enhanced feed value but was not sufficient to fulfill the requirements of goats (Solaiman, 2007). Fishing closures, restrictions and permits, Volunteer non-commercial kangaroo shooting, NSW Hunting Stakeholder Consultation Group, Zoonoses - Animal diseases that can infect people, Forest contractor training and certification scheme, Potential for grain production after grazing. Management issues for feeding hay with sweet clover. Cowpea forage, cowpea fodder, cowpea hay, cowpea silage. Meringa cowpeas (, ILDIS, 2009. Heavy, prolonged grazing of cowpeas and lablab should be avoided. Goat production in the humid tropics. We need to know the genetic makeup of the traits they have so that they can be much more effectively deployed. Red Ripper Cowpeas are very hardy, making them an excellent choice for food plots in Oklahoma and the southern United States. Soybeans are well-adapted to loams, heavier clay loams and heavy, self-mulching clay soils. Plant Characteristics. This is the proportion of dry material in the plant that the animal is able to digest. FAO Plant Production and Protection Series No. Ann. J. Appl. Cowpea haulms were used as a supplement for West African dwarf sheep fed a basal diet of Pennisetum purpureum (Anele et al., 2010). spontanea Schweinf., Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp., Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. Row spacings from 18 to 90 cm are suitable for lablab. Summer legume forage crops: cowpeas, lablab, soybeans. Cowpea should be sown in rotation with a grass crop to minimize weed and disease build-up (Mullen, 1999). However, seed sources are often mixed as there is no certification scheme in NSW. North Carolina State University, North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service, Horticulture Information Leaflets, N° 37, Dahmardeh, M.; Ghanbari, A.; Syasar, B.; Ramroudi, M., 2009. Livestock and production losses from some disorders are possible. These lablabs will flower, but do not complete seed development in northern areas of NSW as the plants are usually killed by frost before the pods develop. B., Advances in cowpea research, IITA, Teyneyck, A .M. Managing Cover Crops Profitably explores how and why cover crops work, and provides all the information needed to build cover crops into any farming operation. More than 11 % is required to fatten stock. Do not apply these herbicides to or near these crops, as severe damage will occur. This mixture also makes excellent hay. The intercropping of maize and cowpea at a seed ratio of 75:25; 70:30 or 50:50 has been reported in Iran, Pakistan and Kansas to increase whole fodder production and to produce quality silage (Dahmardeh et al., 2009b; Azim et al., 2000; Teyneyck et al., 1909). When cowpea is grown specifically for hay, cowpea hay can be of similar quality to alfalfa hay. A. ; Amole, G. A. ; Dele, P. A. ; Jolaosho, A. O., 2010. The optimum forage quality occurs at the milky stage (Dahmardeh et al., 2009a). If there are several buds left after defoliation, the plant will regenerate. Anim. World Rabbit Science, 6 (3-4): 271-276. Along with detailed management information on the most commonly used species—including grasses, grains, brassicas and mustards, and legumes—Managing Cover Crops Profitably offers chapters on the role of cover crops in […] Göhl, B., 1982. Rabbit Res., 12 (2): 113-115. Cowpea originated in Africa and is widely grown in Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia and in the southern United States. J. Madamba, R. ; Grubben, G. J. H. ; Asante, I. K. ; Akromah, R., 2006. This vigorous plant has the ability to produce 70-150 lb of nitrogen in 8 weeks. Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is a leguminous forage crop. Livest. In semiarid … Actually, George and his buddies were the same enlightened group who declared the tomato poisonous and unfit for humans, while his poorer but healthier counterparts were eating those with gusto too! Trop. In addition, cowpea is tolerant to drought and heat. Grazing or cutting the crop lower than 15 cm will kill many plants, thus lowering plant density and production. A lablab or cowpea crop of full canopy and about 60 cm high will produce around 3000 kg/ha of total dry matter. Cowpeas are extremely productive and can produce in excess of 8,000 pounds of quality forage (dry weight) per year throughout the growing season. Weight gains for lambs and steers are comparable with those on lucerne. f., Dolichos hastifolius Schnizl., Dolichos lubia Forssk., Dolichos melanophtalmus DC., Dolichos melanophthalamus DC., Dolichos monachalis Brot., Dolichos obliquifolius Schnizl., Dolichos sinensis L., Dolichos tranquebaricus Jacq., Dolichos unguiculatus L., Liebrechtsia scabra De Wild., Phaseolus sphaerospermus L., Phaseolus unguiculatus (L.) Piper, Vigna brachycalyx Baker f., Vigna catjang (Burm. If these crops are not grazed too hard, and the stems and basic plant skeletons are left intact, there will be maximum recovery and regrowth and you will obtain several grazings. Contribution à l'étude chimique de quelques légumineuses tropicales utilisées dans l'alimentation. A note on the nutritive value of the aerial part of some tropical legumes for pigs. Iron Clay Peas are excellent for quail, turkey, dove & deer. However, they more readily accept soybeans. Iron & Clay cowpeas are a summer annual legume. Livestock had to be turned on cowpeas when the plant was fully developed (yellow pods) in order to prevent trampling and to provide its full feeding value. In the drier parts of Kansas, it was suggested to intercrop cowpea with wheat or oats rather than maize (Teyneyck et al., 1909). developed for use in wildlife supplemental plantings, cover cropping … These mixtures will also need to be wilted before ensiling. Consult your veterinarian or adviser when planning pasture improvement. Cowpeas are drought-tolerant and can be produced in areas where very few other crops would survive. In calves fed teff straw, cowpea hay supplemented at up to 1.5% BW was found as efficient as lablab hay (Lablab purpureus) to improve DM intake, rumen ammonia concentration and teff straw degradability (Abule et al., 1995). The % fiber measured may be slightly lower than Lucerne but this can vary greatly between cuttings and the best way to know the nutrient content of your hay is to have it tested. Problems and prospects of rabbit production in Nigeria - A review. When sowing cowpeas or lablab with forage sorghum or millet, sow three quarters of the recommended seeding rate for cowpeas or lablab with one half the recommended rate for forage sorghum or millet. Beef/Cattle (8) Deer (6) Grain/Ingredients (10) Horse (6) Minerals (7) Pet (15) Poultry/Ratite (6) Protein Supplement (6) Rabbit (1) Salts/Blocks (10) Sheep/Goat (3) Swine (1) Company Items ; Cowpea, Ace Description; Reviews (0) Ace is a small seeded cultivar of forage cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp.) Mature grain crops of soybean damaged by rain should not be grazed by sheep or fed to them, because they may be infected with the fungus, Phomopsis, which produces toxins that cause symptoms similar to lupinosis. When the crop is fully nodulated, cowpea can fix 20 to 140 kg residual N/ha into the soil. The seeds mature in about 90-100 days. The feeding value of four cowpea hay cultivars and effect of their supplementation on intake and digestibility of buffalo grass hay fed to Pedi goats. Lime pelleting is not normally required, except on problem acid soils. Dairy Cattle; Soybeans; Soybean Meal; 4 comments. The effect of supplementing maize stover with cowpea (, Ledbetter, K., 2005. Agronomic performance and nutritive quality of some commercial and improved dual-purpose cowpea (, Anele, U. Y. ; Sudekum, K. H. ; Arigbede, O. M. ; Luttgenau, H. ; Oni, A. O. ; Bolaji, O. J. ; Galyean, M. L., 2012. dairy cattle, partly because of cost and partly because of lack of information on the their nutritive attributes. When well-nodulated, these forage legume crops can fix around 20 to 140 kg residual nitrogen/ha in the soil. +Source: T. Paton, former District Livestock Officer, Coonamble. High moisture may hinder cowpea crops in the sub-humid tropics due to the many diseases they are susceptible to (Tarawali et al., 1997). On coastal soils, up to 250 kg single superphosphate/ha may be required. Yields are lower than other warm-season forages such as bermudagrass or the sudangrass types of annual grasses. Z. G., 1998. over three or four consecutive days. Phosphorus is the main nutritional requirement and should be applied at sowing. Taxonomy. It is measured as megajoules per kilogram of dry matter (MJ/kg DM). Animal feeding stuffs. Graze lightly, keeping as much of the plant frame as possible, and close up crops by early to mid-February. In India, cowpea hay is considered as a traditional source of protein and fibre for rabbits. However, excellent silage can be made by harvesting a mixed crop of cowpea and forage sorghum, millet or maize (Cook et al., 2005; Göhl, 1982). Caloona is the better variety for inland districts. This can give a significant bonus to later cereal crops in the rotation. Summer Grazing Mix is a warm season annual mix that is great for grazing by dairy and beef cattle. Commercial steers on lablab in the Merriwa/Quirindi districts, have had weight gains ranging from 0.5 to 1.2 kg/head/day, depending on age and condition of stock. The best option with this crop is to make haylage or silage. Trop. For further information on herbicides in these crops, see Weed control in summer crops. Cowpeas give better regrowth if grazing is delayed until flowering. 27 Mar 2018 03:55. Because of this difference, the proportions of leaves and stems in the haulm directly affect its nutritional value (Mullen, 1999; Singh et al., 2010). Cowpeas, lablab and soybean make excellent quality hay that compares favourably with lucerne hay (see table 3). The leaf is much more digestible than the stem. Influence of maize and cowpea intercropping on fodder production and characteristics of silage. Evaluation of tropical green forages for dry season feeding of rabbits. In a crop rotation program, cowpea can significantly improve soil nitrogen levels by nitrogen fixation or by incorporation in the soil as a green manure crop. A., 2005. In some situations, seed can be roughed into cereal stubble and double cropped effectively. This may occur when hungry livestock enter the sward. Rumen degradability of nitrogen in typical cultivated grasses and leguminous fodders. Endurance is a perennial lablab variety which has been released as a short-term legume pasture plant. Anim. S. Afr. Potash may be required on coastal soils. For crops to provide this length of grazing, stock numbers will usually be 15 to 25 sheep/ha or 1.5 to 2.5 steers/ha. Red Caloona has good resistance to phytophthora root rot, but it matures more quickly than Caloona and Poona and may not produce as much forage. Brink et al., 1988; CIRAD, 1991; Fulkerson et al., 2007; Gaulier, 1968; Gowda et al., 2004; Heinritz et al., 2012; Liles, 2004; Lim Han Kuo, 1967; Mastrapa et al., 2000; Muir, 2002; Negi et al., 1988; Van Rensburg, 1956; Xandé et al., 1989, Koralagama et al., 2008; Sarria et al., 2010, Anele et al., 2011; Anele et al., 2012; Blair Ralns, 1963; CIRAD, 1991; CIRAD, 2008; FUSAGx/CRAW, 2009; Mokoboki et al., 2000; Onwuka et al., 1997; Richard et al., 1989; Savadogo et al., 2000, Abule et al., 1995; Baloyi et al., 2001; Chakeredza et al., 2002; CIRAD, 1991; Foster et al., 2009; Nsahlai et al., 1996; Patnayak et al., 1979; Ravhuhali et al., 2011; Singh et al., 2010; Umunna et al., 1997; Van Wyk et al., 1951, CIRAD, 1991; Oluokun, 2005; Oyenuga, 1968, Heuzé V., Tran G., Nozière P., Bastianelli D., Lebas F., 2015. Even the goats and the cattle benefit from cowpea, this genuinely african crop, for the hay left over after the grain is harvested as a high-value nutritious forage. The cowpea is an annual herbaceous legume from the genus Vigna. ++ Metabolisable Energy is the energy value of the feed. Cowpea is called the "hungry-season crop" because it is the first harvested crop, before the cereal crops. Stock often take a few days to acquire the taste for cowpeas and lablab when first introduced to them. The digestibility of these forage legumes is about 50 to 56 per cent on a whole-plant basis, and appears to vary little with the crop's age or with changes in environment. Bayero Journal of Pure and Applied Science, 3 (2): 20-25, Mapiye, C. ; Mwale, M. ; Mupangwa, J. F. ; Mugabe, P. H. ; Poshiwa, X. ; Chikumba, N., 2007. Soybeans should be sown at around 40 to 50 kg/ha (depending on seed size) in areas with high rainfall. Cowpea also offers an alternative for grain production. Trop. All these forage legumes nodulate readily when properly inoculated with the correct strain of rhizobia. Intake of cowpea haulms by sheep can reach 86 g OM/kg BW0.75/d, and the selective consumption of leaves results in higher intakes of protein and digestible OM than expected from the offered haulms (Savadogo et al., 2000a). 2. Highly fertile, self-mulching clays and alluvial soils which are high in phosphate do not generally require fertiliser. Malay. It requires very few inputs, as the plant's root nodules are able to fix atmospheric nitrogen, making it a valuable crop for resource-poor farmers and well-suited to intercropping with other crops. The remaining stubble does not create any problems when double cropping with cereals. They are cylindrical, 6 to 20 cm long and 3-12 mm broad, and contain 8 to 20 seeds. Production per season is usually in the 2000 to 3000 kg DM/ha range. The whole plant is used as … Millet based cropping systems with forage legumes for improving nutritive value of crop residues in the Sahelian zone. Cowpea hay tends to be stemmy. Nutritive value of leaf meal of Cowpea (, Savadogo, M.; Zemmelink, G.; Nianogo, A. J., 2000. However, protein digestibility decreased (Sarria et al., 2010). In West Africa, cowpea hay is an important fodder sold in local markets. Field pea supplemented cattle had 10% lower ADG compared to DDGS supplemented cattle at 2.14 and 2.38 lbs/day respectively. Sci., 107 (2-3): 253-264. Sci., 5 (2): 7-9, Anele, U. Y. ; Arigbede, O. M. ; Sudekum, K. H. ; Ike, K. A. ; Oni, A. O. ; Olanite, J. It should be used as a cover crop, but it can double as a tremendous source of high quality forage. There have been attempts at using cowpea leaf meal in pig feeding. A high level of morphological diversity is found within the species with large variations in the size, shape, and structure of the plant. When seasons are suitable, and when sown relatively early, the best forage types will regrow after grazing or cutting. Used with maize, it was a high grade forage for pigs and sheep. ), Post-Harvest Compendium, AGST, FAO, Heinritz, S. N. ; Hoedtke, S. ; Martens, S. D. ; Peters, M. ; Zeyner, A., 2012. Sow lablab at 15 to 20 kg/ha under dryland conditions, to achieve a plant population of 40,000 to 60,000 plants/ha (4 to 6 plants/square metre), and up to 30 kg/ha in irrigated or high rainfall areas (95,000 plants/ha). They are very hardy, making them an excellent choice for food plots in the southern United States. This variety has smaller black seeds, averaging around 5000 seeds/kg. https://www.feedipedia.org/node/233 Last updated on October 20, 2015, 16:20, Feedipedia - Animal Feed Resources Information System - INRAE CIRAD AFZ and FAO © 2012-2020 | Copyright | Disclaimer | Editor login, Tables of chemical composition and nutritional value, English correction by Tim Smith (Animal Science consultant) and Hélène Thiollet (AFZ), Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), aerial part, fresh, Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata), aerial part, dehydrated, Abule, E. ; Umunna, N. N. ; Nsahlai, I. V. ; Osuji, P. O. ; Alemu Y., 1995. Maize-cowpea intercrops may have considerable potential as forage: intercrops have a higher DM digestibility than maize or cowpea grown alone, they are richer in protein than maize alone and are higher in water-soluble carbohydrates than cowpea alone. Cowpea has great flexibility in use: farmers can choose to harvest it for grains or as forage for their livestock, depending on economic or climatic constraints (Gomez, 2004). Cowpea forage is a source of protein and is quite digestible for ruminants (OM digestibility more than 60%) (Anele et al., 2011a; Cook et al., 2005). 1): 87-88, Mullen, C., 1999. B.; Tarawali, S. A., 1996. Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. In: Renard, C. Cowpea is an indigenous crop that has evolved from the native wild types and its genetic diversity is greater than that of any other crop in the dry african savannah. Use 5 g of methyl cellulose per litre of water for the normal glue slurry method or 15 g methyl cellulose when lime pelleting seed. There are seasonal differences in the quality of haulms so that attention must be given to handling of haulms to minimize the amount of leaves lost during the wet season (Anele et al., 2012). Use the following formula to calculate the required seeding rate (kg seed/ha): Seed must be inoculated before sowing with the correct strain of inoculant to ensure good nodulation and nitrogen fixation in the soil. Cowpeas can be planted from spring through early fall. Dual-purpose varieties, although lower in protein than forage-type varieties, require little or no input, and provide sufficient biomass in marginal lands, without additional fertilizer, to provide a livestock feed supplement during the dry season (Anele et al., 2011a). Cowpea pod husks obtained after threshing are also used to feed livestock (Oluokun, 2005). Table 2 shows a comparative range of feed values for these forage legumes. Forage cowpea is used across the I-20 Corridor as browse for wildlife and has the potential for increased use as a summer cover crop, hay, baleage, and silage crop. (IFAD, 2000 ). Cowpeas, lablab and soybeans have a low bloat risk for cattle, although some losses have been recorded, mainly where hungry stock have been introduced onto these crops. Leaves and shoots usually contain more than 20% protein, depending on the stage of maturity and seasonal climatic variation (Mullen, 1999). The nutritive values of Indian cattle feeds and the feeding of animals. In inland areas, cowpea crops appear more sensitive to attack by black cowpea aphid than does lablab. Great for stopping soil erosion and weed suppression. For good quality hay, cowpeas are best cut around mid-flowering, but lablab can be cut any time after 12 weeks' growth. Allowing growing animals to have creep access to cowpeas provides for enhanced animal performance during summer when forage nutritive value of other species is typically reduced. Well-cured cowpea haulms are a useful feed and can make excellent hay, provided that the leaves are well preserved (too much exposure to the sun makes them fall off) and that the stems are adequately wilted (Cook et al., 2005; FAO, 2013; Göhl, 1982). Porcina, 7 (2): 54, Mokoboki, H. K.; Ayisi, K. K.; Ndlovu, L. R., 2000. Cowpea forage helps to eliminate the need for a fallow period between a sorghum crop and the following wheat crop, while providing cover to the soil during summer without demanding too much water (Ledbetter, 2005). Summer cover crops. Cattle fed DDGS gained 2.25 and 2.51 lbs/day for the 0.4 and 0.8% of BW levels, respectively. var. Iron Clay Peas produce forage in 45 days and mature seed in 100 days. Drill cowpeas into moist soil at 1-2 inches deep at a seeding rate of 30 lbs per acre (use higher rates in cooler, drier conditions). Under dryland conditions, yields of cowpeas have ranged from 500 kg dry matter (DM)/ha to over 4000 kg DM/ha under favourable conditions. Cowpeas can tolerate a wide range of soil types but do best when planted in well-drained soils that are slightly acidic. Cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata) and lablab (Lablab purpureus) are fast growing, annual, summer forage legumes. In Africa, cowpea is widely intercropped with maize, sorghum and millet (Cook et al., 2005). A similar result was obtained with cowpea haulms containing slightly less protein (14% protein and 22% crude fibre) in a study where concentrate and forage were offered separately (Alli-Balogun et al., 2003). Dried cowpea leaves, separated from the stems, were included at 5% (replacing 50% of soybean meal) with no detrimental effect on the health of growing rabbits (Magouze et al., 1998) or breeding does (Mahmoud et al., 1998). In NSW, Rongai is normally killed by frosts before it can flower. Seeds can be white, pink, brown or black. Excellent silage can be made by sowing cowpeas or lablab with forage sorghum or millet. Afr. Charcoal rot can affect all crops, but is usually not serious. The production of nodules depends on the efficiency of inoculation, soil moisture, soil temperature, nutrition and soil acidity. After harvesting the peas, they plow the plants directly into the soil and let them function as green manure, filling the soil with nutrients as they decompose and setting the stage for a different … Res., 11 (2): 169-182, USDA, 2009. Location, soil type and history of fertiliser application will determine fertiliser needs. Cowpeas grow well on poor land and add lots of organic matter to the soil. Leaf parts have 60 to 75 per cent digestible dry matter (DDM %) while stems have been analysed as 50 to 55 DDM %. Rongai and Highworth are the two main commercial forage varieties in NSW. J. Appl. Four subspecies of cowpeas are recognised, of which three are cultivated. They are excellent quality crops for fattening both sheep and cattle, and are also regarded as good feed for milking cows. Strip grazing will help to obtain more efficient use of forage. Only the leaf portion, which is approximately half the total crop weight, is considered when estimating carrying capacity. Cowpeas are relatively inexpensive, easy to establish and manage, grow well under just about any condition, produce a tremendous amount of protein-packed and digestible forage, and deer are extremely … Read More In Afghanistan, under irrigation, it is recommended to make the first cut after 60-65 days from sowing, the second cut 45-55 days later and the third cut 50 days later (Oushy, 2012). Conventional or 'no till' sowing equipment is suitable for sowing all these forage legumes. International Legume Database & Information Service, Iyeghe-Erakpotobor, G. T. ; Muhammad, I. R., 2008. Burt Rutherford. World Rabbit Science, 4 (2): 75-78, Prasad, R. ; Karim, S. A., 1998. In: Calles, T.; Makkar, H. P. S. (Eds), FAO, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy, Singh, B. Rabbit Sci., 8 (1): 49-60, Mahmoud, S. A. ; Magouze, F. I. ; El-Kelawy, H. M. ; Homouda, I. In: Mejía (Ed. ; Call, L. E., 1909. Cow peas are fast-growing, annual, summer forage legumes. Cowpea hay also is difficult to cure because of its thick stems and heavy seed pods. molybdenised superphosphate should be applied to sandy, acid soils once every four to five years. Cowpea haulms as fodder. Cowpea may suffer from trampling if livestock enter the sward before the plants are full-grown. Avg: average or predicted value; SD: standard deviation; Min: minimum value; Max: maximum value; Nb: number of values (samples) used. Management may need to be modified to minimise risk. Effects of processed cowpea (. Yields of up to 8 t DM/ha have been recorded in irrigated areas (Mullen, 1999). Agric. Under dry land conditions, yields of cowpea forage have ranged from 0.5 t DM/ha to over 4 t DM/ha under favourable conditions. A., 2003. Chemical composition, rumen degradability and crude protein fractionation of some commercial and improved cowpea (, Azim, A.; Khan, A. G.; Nadeem, M. A.; Muhammad, D., 2000. It is an excellent quality crop for fattening both sheep and cattle, and is also regarded as good feed for milking cows. 1. They are also commonly planted as a cover crop because they fix nitrogen, they have fast, weed-suppressing growth, and they … Its digestibility appears to vary little with the crop maturity or environmental changes (Mullen, 1999). There are around 15,000 seeds/kg in each of these varieties. Attracts beneficial insects when flowering. A.; Bottger, C.; Ojo, V. O.; Jolaosho, A. O., 2011. Ghosh, S. K.; Datt, C.; Singh, N. P.; Ngachan, S. V., 2008. Seed of these varieties has to be obtained from Queensland each season. Stock numbers are usually adjusted to suit crop growth and to allow four to eight weeks' grazing. Rotary drum headers give the best results. Most summer grasses-such as barnyard grass, black grass, spiny burr grass and liverseed grass-can be controlled with pre-emergent herbicides. Cowpea grows in savannah vegetation at temperatures ranging from 25°C to 35°C and in areas where annual rainfall ranges from 750 mm to 1100 mm (Madamba et al., 2006). ), an annual legume, is also commonly referred to as southern pea, blackeye pea, crowder pea, lubia, niebe, coupe or frijole. Cowpea hay also is difficult to cure because of its thick stems and heavy seed pods. It provided succulent feed during late summer when natural pastures were short. Anim.Sci., 13 (6): 781-784, Baloyi, J. J. ; H. Hamudikuwanda, H. ; Ngongoni N. T., 2009. Inoculate seed the day before sowing and allow it to dry overnight. When cut, cowpea can be mixed with dry cereals for stall-feeding (Tarawali et al., 1997). Many graziers have recorded weight gains in the order of 0.7 to 1.0 kg/head/day over a 60 day grazing period. A new forage cowpea variety – Ace – blends a number of desirable characteristics into a well-rounded option for livestock, wildlife and improved soil health, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Research expert. The amount of soil nitrogen fixed varies widely, but the effect on following cereal crops is usually dramatic. Cowpea is grown in more than two-thirds of the developing world as a companion or relay crop with major cereals crop (Tarawali et al., 1997). In Australia, the ideal time to cut a cowpea crop for hay is at peak flowering, which occurs 70-90 days after sowing (Cameron, 2003). Cattle fed field peas at 0.4 or 0.8% of BW gained 2.13 and 2.15 lbs/day, respectively. Cowpea forage has been successfully fed to beef cattle in Oklahoma and other states, and no palatability or anti-quality problems have been reported. Cowpea grows on a wide range of soils provided they are well drained (Madamba et al., 2006). Iron Clay Peas produce forage in 45 days and mature seed in 100 days. Health Prod., 34 (1): 49-64, Cook, B. G.; Pengelly, B. C.; Brown, S. D.; Donnelly, J. L.; Eagles, D. A.; Franco, M. A. ; Hanson, J.; Mullen, B. F.; Partridge, I. J.; Peters, M.; Schultze-Kraft, R., 2005. However, sowings for grain only are best made in December to early January. Traditionally, these crops have been grown in the northern half of NSW, where summer rainfall is more predominant. Wishlist; Login or Sign Up; Order Status; Shipping & Returns; Sitemap Intercropping maize (, Diaz, M. F. ; Padilla, C. ; Gonzalez, A. ; Curbelo, F., 2002. Are lower than other legumes ( Ecocrop, 2009 M AgriLife Today Lim. Primarily valued as food, but younger cattle seem to be modified to minimise disease and... Crop rotations ad lib diet will have a much higher requirement for than! Off dry or poor quality feed has to be examined for green bug... Vigna scabra ( de Wild. around mid-flowering, but also widely planted as a component a! 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Technology Transfer ( AWATT ) Program, Owen, J. ; Bergeret, B.,. Soybeans where crop rotation with a grass crop to minimise disease buildup and take advantage of increased nitrogen. Losses from some disorders are possible about four weeks longer into autumn than cowpeas or soybeans description fast. ; Akromah, R. ; Karim, S. ; ter Meulen, U. ; Ndlovu L.! Soybean hull based diets is measured as megajoules per kilogram of dry matter ( MJ/kg )... To 75 lbs./acre pea also is difficult to cure because of its stems! As food, but the later maturing types are preferred for grazing lablab where soils become waterlogged crops provide! Where weed competition is controlled before sowing with suitable knockdown herbicides to minimise.. That compares favourably with lucerne hay ( see table 3 ) depth of 4 t/ha of cowpea fodder 0.5! Before the plants are full-grown with lucerne hay ( see table 3.... Livestock should be vaccinated with 5 in 1 or pulpy kidney vaccine introducing! 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