Do. Kiesling et Ha. Swartz, GROWTH AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF LAMBS GRAZING COWPEA, SUDANGRASS OR FED IN DRYLOT, Small ruminant research, 26(1-2), 1997, pp. 171-175
A trial was conducted (1990-1993) to compare growth and carcass charac
teristics of lambs grazing cowpea with those lambs grazing sudangrass
or fed corn/soybean meal or corn/whole cottonseed in drylot. The trial
was conducted in the Midwest region of the USA from the end of July (
mid summer) until the middle of October (fall) of each year. Each tria
l consisted of 48 lambs that were divided equally into 12 lambs per tr
eatment. Total gain of lambs grazing cowpea was 14.2 +/- 0.45 kg which
was greater (P < 0.05) than that of lambs grazing sudangrass (6.0 +/-
0.41 kg), fed a 16% CP corn/soybean meal ration (11.1 +/- 0.42 kg), o
r fed a 16% CP corn/whole cottonseed ration (10.4 +/- 0.42 kg). Lambs
grazing cowpea had greater (P < 0.05) carcass weight (22.5 +/- 0.44 kg
), dressing percentage (50.0 +/- 0.54) and larger loineye area (17.2 /- 0.44 cm(2)) than lambs grazing sudangrass (15.5 +/- 0.44 kg, 41.3 /- 0.54%, 13.9 +/- 0.44 cm(2)), fed corn/soybean meal (20.6 +/- 0.44 k
g, 47.7 +/- 0.54%, 14.8 +/- 0.44 cm(2)), or fed corn/whole cottonseed
(19.1 +/- 0.44 kg, 43.7 +/- 0.54%, 14.4 +/- 0.44 cm(2)). Lambs grazing
cowpea did not differ (P > 0.05) from drylot lambs in backfat, retail
cuts, kidney-pelvic fat percentage, live weight, and yield grade. In
conclusion, cowpea can be used as an alternative feed source for finis
hing lambs during the summer months and early fall in the Midwest regi
on of the USA. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.