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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #130714
Title: USING SUBTROPICAL LEGUMES AS A PROTEIN SUPPLEMENT FOR BEEF CATTLE

Author
item Phillips, William
item Rao, Srinivas

Submitted to: Mid Oklahoma Coop News
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/1/2001
Publication Date: 12/1/2001
Citation: Phillips, W.A., Rao, S.C. 2001. Using subtropical legumes as a protein supplement for beef cattle. Mid Oklahoma Coop News. p. 12.

Interpretive Summary: Abstract Only.

Technical Abstract: Previous research has established that providing supplemental protein to stocker calves grazing warm season grass will increase stocker gain during the last half of the summer and that forage legumes inter-cropped with winter wheat can be used to provide an on-farm source of supplemental protein. The objective of the following research was to evaluate pigeon peas (Cajanus cajan L.) as a potential source of protein for stocker calves. As a standing forage, pigeon peas produced 5,490 kg of DM/ha by the first week in August with a CP content of 15.6% and a estimated DM digestibility of 58.7%. Peas harvested as grain had a CP content of 19.4% and a calculated DM digestibility of 75%. Based on this experiment, we concluded that pigeon peas can be grown during the summer in Oklahoma and the standing forage or grain used to provide supplemental protein for stocker calves.