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DRY FIELD PEAS AS A COMPONENT IN GRAIN STARTER
RATIONS FOR PREWEANED AND WEANED DAIRY CALVES
G.D. Marx, Northwest Research and Outreach Center
University of Minnesota, Crookston
This calf study was conducted at the Northwest Research and Outreach Center at Crookston, Minnesota.
Both preweaned and postweaned dairy calves were utilized as either experimentals or controls in a calf grain starter ration that contained either dry field peas or barley as the primary component. There were 34 preweaned calves in Trial 1 which were fed for a 5-week period and 32 weaned calves fed for a 5-week period in Trial 2. Both rations were balanced to 18% crude protein with soybean meal. The preweaned calves were fed 4.4 kg milk daily in two equal feedings, in addition to ad libitum grain starter. Weaned calves received free choice alfalfa haylage in addition to 1.8 kg grain starter maximum daily/calf. Calves for each treatment were balanced for sire size and sex (male/female) and assigned to treatments at random.
Calves were housed indoors, in individual calf pens 1.2 m x 1.5 m each, inside a warm, separate insulated and continuously ventilated calf facility where temperatures
were maintained at 10 C (50 F) during the winter months.
Grain starter was fed free choice starting on day four (ad libitum). The grain starter was prepared at the Northwest Research and Outreach Center Feed Mill and was formulated to meet NRC (National Research Council) standards to meet requirements. Table 1 presents the nutrient analyses of the starter utilized in this feeding trial. Table 2 indicates the composition of the grain starter. Water was available free choice to appetite with automatic waterers in each individual pen. All calves were given Vitamin A, D and E injections at birth as a part of routine management.
Feed samples were collected weekly and composited for nutrient analyses.
Feed intakes were recorded along with any weighback material each week. No forage was fed to the preweaned calves. Body weights were recorded at birth and at weekly intervals. Total gains and average daily gains were calculated, calf health was strictly observed and any medical treatments were recorded.
Data were analyzed statistically by General Linear Models (GLM) procedure of SAS (Statistical Analysis System).
These data included body weight gains, milk consumed, grain starter consumed and scour days.
Tables 3 and 4 present the performance of calves in this study. None of the parameters studied were statistically significant (P< .05) among treatments including rate of gain and starter
consumption.
Forage intakes for the weaned calves and feed-to-gain rations were similar for both treatment groups. No unusual health problems were observed. Feed intake and palatability was adequate and indicated that field peas were acceptable and a satisfactory component at 40% of the grain starter ration for both weaned and preweaned dairy calves. Few scour days occurred as indicated and scours was not a factor in this study.
In summary, field peas are adapted to growing in northern climates and yields of modern varieties are quiet competitive with other grain values.
In addition, the higher protein content of field peas is an advantage over conventional grains normally used in calf grain starter rations. In other cases, cull peas, down grades and weather damaged peas can be purchased at reasonable prices for incorporation into these grain rations. The bottom line is that if the economics of purchasing field peas has an advantage or is comparative to other sources of protein and energy feeds, peas can be successfully substituted in calf grain starter rations.
Table 1. Nutrient Analysis of Feedstuffs
|
Ingredient
|
Field Peas
|
Soybean Meal
|
Dry Corn
|
Dry Barley
|
Alfalfa Haylage
|
|
Dry Matter
|
88.1
|
90.1
|
86.4
|
89.0
|
42.5
|
|
Crude Protein
|
24.3
|
50.0
|
10.2
|
14.0
|
20.8
|
|
NE L
|
0.87
|
0.85
|
0.92
|
0.87
|
0.65
|
|
A.D. Fiber
|
7.8
|
9.2
|
3.0
|
6.9
|
33.1
|
|
Ether Extract
|
1.3
|
1.6
|
4.0
|
3.1
|
2.0
|
|
Est. TDN
|
84.0
|
83.5
|
87.0
|
82.0
|
63.2
|
|
Ash
|
3.0
|
7.1
|
1.6
|
2.6
|
9.5
|
|
Calcium
|
0.20
|
0.33
|
0.05
|
0.06
|
1.27
|
|
Phosphorus
|
0.51
|
0.66
|
0.32
|
0.36
|
0.29
|
|
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