COWPEA GRAIN FOR CATTLE FEED IN CONFINEMENT

Abstract

This experiment was carried out at Cedro Experiment Station of IPA, locatedin Vitória de Santo Antão municipality, in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. Itaimed to study the use of cowpea grain as a protein source for cattle feed in confinement. The trial had three treatments, in which only the protein sourcevaried. In the first treatment cottonseed meal was used as a protein sourceand this was the check. In the second treatment, raw ground cowpea grainwas used in the amount of 15% superior to the first treatment and in thethird treatment toasted ground cowpea grain was used in an amount equal tothe second treatment. Raw ground cowpea grain gave a live weight gain 37%superior to the one given by cottonseed meal. There was no statisticaldifference between raw and toasted cowpea grain indicating that toasting isnot necessary.