Feed Peas Need Minimal Processing

FARGO - Aug 18/05 - SNS -- Field peas require minimal processing to be an effective protein supplement in diets for feedlot heifers, a North Dakota State University (NDSU) study shows.

Researchers at NDSU's Carrington Research Extension Center found that the test heifers fed a corn-based diet that included dry-rolled peas gained weight the fastest, consumed the most feed and were the fattest at slaughter.

The researchers compared dry-rolled, whole and ground peas. The dry-rolling process breaks the peas into small pieces, which are easier for cattle to digest, but not so small that they will create the digestive upsets that finely ground peas can cause.

Dry-rolled peas also produced the best gains in creep-fed calves, compared with ground or whole peas, when researchers added peas as 40% of the feed ration formula. Researchers are continuing the creep feed studies with an evaluation of pelleted creep feeds that include peas.

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