Herne ja virna lypsylehmien rehuna

Authors

• Irja Uotila Kotieläinhoidon tutkimuslaitos, Tikkurila

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23986/afsci.71492

Abstract

The investigation concerns trials with pea and vetch (finely ground), performed as a milk yield test with cows and as digestion tests with wethers. The vetch meal (84.8 % dry matter) used in the milk yield test contained 22.1 % digestible crude protein, the quantity equivalent to one food unit was 1.08 kg. The pea meal (83.5 % dry matter) contained 19.8 % digestible crude protein, 1.07 kg of the meal corresponding to one food unit. (1 F.U. = 0.7 Kellner’s starch units) (Table 2. p. 22.) Calculated according to the Scandinavian food unit system (Hansson), 1.02 kg of either fodder would be equivalent to one food unit. In the milk yield test the quantity of vetch used was 2.2 to 3.7 kg (average 2.9 kg) and the quantity of peas 2.1 to 4.0 kg (average 3.0 kg) per animal and day, depending on the yield level of the animal. About half of the total F.U. quantity of the concentrates was made up of vetch, while pea accounted for somewhat over one half. The total digestible crude protein in the concentrates consisted, respectively, of 59 % protein from the vetch and 55 % protein from peas. About one quarter of the total food unit quantity of all fodder consisted of peas or vetch, 43 % and 41 % of their digestible crude protein quantities being made up of vetch or pea proteins respectively (Tables 3 and 4, p. 23–24). The concentrate mixture containing pea and vetch meal was readily eaten by the cows. One mild case of bloat occurred in the vetch group, the animal concerned being the cow which had received the second largest amount of vetch meal (3.6 kg per day). The risk of digestive disturbances is not great, particularly if the administration of pea and vetch meal is commenced with small quantities daily gradually increasing the rations (during a period of five days). The quantity of 4 % milk obtained during the trial period of the pea or vetch administration did not decrease. On the other hand the total milk quantity was less. Its fat content was however higher in that way resulting in an unchanged 4 % milk yield (Table 5, p. 24). No taste or small different from normal could be observed in the milk during the test. The increases in live weight during the trial period were equivalent to the means of the corresponding figures for the preliminary and subsequent periods (Table 6. p. 25). The vetch and pea quantities employed in the trials were of a size (on an average about one half of the concentrate quantities) that would ensure an adequate protein supply in practice with such amounts (and even with smaller ones) providing the protein content of the other domestic fodder substances is kept normal. The digestion trials were carried out with wethers, the test being performed with two animals for each experimental fodder. The basic ration consisted of 450 g timothy-dominated hay per day while 350 g pea or vetch meal per day were given in addition. The chemical composition of the fodder used in the digestion trials (%) is shown in Table 7 (p. 25). In the digestion trials all other constituents except the crude fiber were digested by the animals in each instance. Such a difference may be caused by even a minor deviation in the homogeneity of the basic fodder, which had a high fiber content in the tests. This might be reduced by employing pure timothy as basic fodder in the digestion trials. The nitrogen balanced was positive, + 1.5 g with pea meal and + 2.6 g with vetch meal, respectively. On the whole it appears from the results of the digestion trials that the digestibility of pea and vetch meal is such that these fodder can be considered as ranking among the very best concentrates in this respect. The cultivation of pure pea and vetch is apt to be less successful in Finland than their mixed cultivation (usually with oats) owing to the tendency of the plants to lodge. Moreover, pea and vetch ripen earlier in mixtures so that they can in fact be grown further north than is the case at present (7). Of the fodder plants cultivated in this country vetch and pea have the highest protein content. In attempting to increase the protein content of our domestic fodder crops attention should be paid to the mixed cultivation of vetches and peas since they are rich in protein and are fodder of a kind well suited for the feeding of milk cattle.