The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1899-06-15
The Feeding Value of Cowpeas.

Inc IeeulnS value OF tue COWpeu Is
very high, as shown by feeding tests
and chemical analyses. Breckmans
states that the well cured hay is more
nutritious than any hay produced from
grass, millet, OF any other grass used
for the purpose, and that one ton of il
will last as long as a ton and hall
of the best timothy. One hundred
pounds of the green vines contain co.
pounds of total dry matter, of which II
pounds are digestible. One hundred
pounds of the hay contain 1913 pounds
of :the total dry matter, of which 5O.i
pounds are ligestible. The digestiblt
crude protein in the hay amounts tt
1910 pounds in comparison with 1875
for alfalfa, 10.49 for crimson clover
6.5S for red clover, and 9,S9 for timothy
The digestible carbohydrates and fa
amount to 39.91 pounds to every 10l
pounds of the cowpea hay, 1871 fol
alfalfa, 80. AZ for crimson clover, $40
for red clover, and 1915 for timothy
The average nutritive ratio of cowpe'
hay is 1879; of alfalfa, 1873, of crimson
clover, 8; of red clover, IS o; and o
timothy, 1;1O.2. The green cowpe'
vines are more succulent than rec
clover or any of the grasses, containing
less dry matter per total weight.
The feeding value of the hay is showl
by the nutritive ratio which represent
the relation of the digestible crude pro
tein to the carbohydrates and extrac
matter. Thus, for every pound of di
gestible crude protein in cowpea ha,
there are 3.9 pounds of digestible car
bohydrates and fat. In order to insur
uniform growth of an animal and ge
the full feeding value of all the con
stituents of forage, the ration must b
properly balanced. The nutritive rati
of cowpea hay is narrower than can b
properly utilized by the animal, and t.
get the full benefit of all the crude pro
tein in the plant, hay, or coarse fodde
containing an excess of the carbohy
drates must be added to the daily ration
A practical farmer, writing from South
ern Mississippi, says that excellent re
suits are obtained through feeding tw
parts of cowpea hay to one part of era
grass or timothy, and when using thi
ration very little grain was required
especially when the hay containe
much of the pods. If cowpea hay b
fed without the admixture of som
coarse forage of grass hay, portion {
the protein will be wasted through in
ability of the animal to digest and as
simulate the whole amount. Cowpe
hay is used on many of the souther
sugar and rice plantations for til
horses and mules, and it is found tina
work stock keep in excellent conditio
upon it, requiring very little grain.
The chief functions of this crop ar
to furnish large amounts of nitroge
distracted from the air and fixed in th
roots and stubble in O convenient
available form for the use of succeedin
crops; second, to produce q large yiel
of vines and peas rich in digestibl
protein, either as hay or for soilin
purposes, which will take the place
concentrated nitrogenous foods; an(
third, to supply humus, which acts d
rectly and indirectly to produce fe
tility by breaking down and renderin
available the basic minerals of the sol
The fertilizing value of the nitrogen
the vine is entirely dissipated or grea
ly diminished by weathering whf
they are left on the surface of the fieI
during the winter. Hence, to secul
the full value, the cowpeas should
fed and the stable manure returned
the field. If the vines are plOwed u
der in autumn, o winter forage Gro
, such as winter OATS. crimson Glove
rye, or vetches, should be planted
. prevent the teaching and washing actiC
of the winter rains.