Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-05-23

tensively fed, for the reason that the
seed have been too high priced to
justify this practice. Such cowpeas
as have been utilized for feeding pur-
poses generally represent seed dam
aged by weevils or broken in the
course Of harvesting and prepare
ton for market. Undoubtedly, cow
peas can be used to excellent ad-
vantage in the fattening of hogs and
as constituting part of the ration
of dairy cows and even beef cattle
Cowpea seed have been fed as a SUBJ
stitute for wheat bran to calves with
excellent results. The grain of this
crop is rich in protein. One hundred
pounds Of cowpeas contain about
1914 per cent of this element in di-
gestible form, 54.5 per cent carbohy-
drates, and IL per cent fat. They
are thus superior to wheat, oats and
corn in their protein content, while
containing the same amount Of car
bohydrates, though somewhat less
fat. Soy beans contain more protein,
but velvet beans less. Undoubtedly,
cowpeas could be. fed as satisfac-
tory substitute in many instances for
wheat bran or wheat middlings.
| The coWpea, as we all know, is
rather commonly used as a table
food in the southern states, Very lit
tie effort has been made to create a
general market for it in other parts
| of the country. 1t is wholesome
and nutritious foodstuff and a great
variety Of very palatable and eco
nomical dishes can be prepared there
from. Cowpeas have been used as
| food in the home in three different
forms, viz: in the pod, as shelled
peas, or as shelled dried peas.
The yield ofjgrain varies according
| to the soil and climatic conditions
and the variety. The Wh;ppoorwill
and Brabham are the two standard
sorts very extensively cultivated.
The Black and New Era are credit
ed with making large yields wherev-
err grown. The Large Blackeye is
also good sort as far as yields are
concerned. Personally, we are in
cined to think the best strains for
general cultivation are the Whip
poorwill, the Brabham, the New
Era, the Extra Early B1ackeye, the
Black, the Iron and the Taylor.
Cowpea straw, as already point
ed out, is a valuable roughage for
feeding to live stock. The digestlble
nutrients in 100 pounds approximate
3.4 per cent protein, 1871 per cent
carbohydrates, OF per cent fat. The
straw is thus much more desirable
as foodstuff than that obtained
from soy beans. oats, wheat, rye or
barley. No evil effects from using
it in the form of roughage have ever
| been recorded Possibly it's over.
use in association with horses is to
be avoided on account of it's relative
1y high content Of nitrogen. Cowpeas
may be used for hay with great ad-
vantage on account of their rich
ness in digestible nutrients, their
wide adaptability for general cult
walton, their maturity at various
seasons OF the year, and the fine ball
ance Of food nutrients they contain,
which adapts the feeding of the hay
with such a high degree of satisfac-
ton to practically all types of live
stock maintained on the farm.
There is much variation in opin-
ion as to the time at which coWpeas
should be cut for hay. 1t is good
practice, however, to begin this OPP
Grafton when the ends of the pods
begin to turn yellow and the lower
leaves show a contrasting color. Ii
cut and cured at this time there will
Ebe a smaller percentage loss OF
leaves. 1t is very desirable, Of course,
to harvest and preserve as many OF
the leaves as possible.
Cowpea hay may be cured in a
variety Of ways. We think there is
no better practice to follow along
this line than that indicated in the
earlier part of this article. The crop
may be- sown alone or in combination
with millet, sorghum or Sudan grass.
We prefer to utilize millet for the
purpose indicated, because we think
very high quality of hay can be
made from cowpeas and millet and
the curing out of this combination
crop is not a difficult undertaking.
In feeding value cowpea hay rivals
that obtained from soy beans, alfalfa
or red clover. 1t is quite superior to
Timothy hay. Owing to its relative
richness IN nitrogen it should be fed
in combination with forms of rough
age deficient in this element, partic-
ularly to work stock. The value of
the hay as a substitute for expensive
grains is not fully recognized on our
southern farms. When coWpea hay
Is up llLS IL may NC leu III
a moistened condition to turkeys,
ducks, geese and chickens during
the winter with excellent results. III
other words. if there is a supply Of
this hay on hand it can be substi-
tuted for alfalfa. The yield Of hay
will vary anywhere from one to three
tons per acre. The average yield is
probably from 1 to LIS tons.
Cowpeas may be pastured with
considerable success, especially by
Illuminating ANIMALS if they have
been accustomed to grazing on this
crop. When cowpeas are in a very
green and rank condition the animals
should be turned on them for only
a very short time until they have
become accustomed 70 this type of
feed, otherwise there is danger of
ploating. Various classes of live
stock have made very excellent gains
when grazed on coWpeas. Dairy
cows give a rich and wholesome sup
ply of milk, and the condition of
beef cows is also improved. Hogs
on cowpea pasture have gained APP
proXimately one pound daily.
| For a time it was thought that
cowpeas could be used advantageous
ly in the silo. Our experience in
handling the crop for this purpose