bstract
Field peas, chickpeas, and
lentils (pulse grains) are marketed as dry, whole or split seeds primarily for
human consumption. Surplus grain, off quality grains, and screenings which
contain high levels of protein (22 to 30% CP on a DM basis) and energy (45 to
60 Mcal/cwt NEg), are an
attractive, nutrient dense livestock feed. The objective of this study was to
determine if replacing a portion of a typical corn and canola meal diet with
pulse grains would improve feed intake, gain, and feed efficiency of newly
weaned feedlot cattle. One hundred
seventy six mixed breed steers from 40 different ranches in North Dakota and
Montana (initial BW 560.2 ± 40.9 lbs.) were allotted by weight and source to
one of four receiving diets (Table 1) containing either chickpeas, field peas,
lentils, or corn and canola meal as a concentrate and protein source.
Experimental diets were fed for 40 days, after which cattle were fed a common
diet containing approximately 68.4 percent concentrate on a DM basis. Effect of
receiving diets on subsequent performance was evaluated for the 7-week period
following the end of the trial.
Three weeks prior to feedlot entry, cattle were vaccinated
for protection against IBR, BVD, BRSV, PI3 (Bovishield-4; Pfizer, Exton, PA), and
clostridia (7-way + somnus; Pfizer, Exton, PA).
Upon arrival at the CREC feedlot (October 11, 2003) cattle were implanted with Synovex-S (200 mg progesterone, 20 mg estradiol;
Fort Dodge Animal Health, Overland Park, KS), re-vaccinated, ear-tagged,
weighed, and allotted to treatment.
Cattle fed chickpea-, field pea-, or lentil-based diets during the first
20-day period gained 25.9% faster (3.12 vs. 2.48 lbs/d) and consumed more dry matter
per day (11.9 vs. 10.2 lbs/d) compared to cattle fed the corn-canola meal-based
diet (P < 0.01, Table 2). Feed efficiency did not differ (P > 0.32) among
treatments for the first 20-day period. During the second 20-day period, no
difference in gain, dry matter intake, or feed efficiency occurred (P >
0.38), indicating that an advantage for feeding pulse grains exists during the
first three weeks of receiving newly weaned cattle. Protein level was the same
among the four treatments in this trial, indicating that protein from pulse
grains may be more palatable or digestible compared to protein from canola meal
or corn. When measured for the entire 42-day receiving period, cattle fed pulse
grain-based diets gained 9.2% faster (4.02 vs. 3.68 lbs/day; P < 0.05), and
tended (P = 0.11) to consume more dry matter per day (16.3 vs. 15.0 lbs/day)
compared to cattle fed the corn/canola meal-based diet. At the termination of the receiving study,
cattle were penned as treatment groups ( 4 pens, ~44 head per pen) and placed
on a common corn-based finishing diet.
Cattle previously fed pulse grains continued to follow a trend for
increased gains for the 7-week period after the termination of the receiving
trial.
