Chemical Composition and Dry Matter Yield of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculate L Walp) Haulms as Fodder for Ruminants

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine chemical composition and dry matter yield of cowpea haulms (Sejwaleng, Lebudu and Morathathane) grown in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Randomized complete block design was used as an experimental design and plant material was harvested at 14 weeks after planting. All of the three cowpea varieties had higher protein content ranging from 111.2 to 121.7 g/kg DM. From the study all three varieties did not meet the packed volume requirement and water retention criterion. The three cowpea varieties have different levels of dry matter yield. Low levels of both extracted condensed tannins and condensed tannins in ADF were found in all of the three cowpea varieties. All the three cowpea varieties could be utilized as protein supplements for ruminants on low quality roughages. There is therefore a need to determine palatability and feed intake using these three cowpea varieties.