504 FORAGE PLANTS AND THEIR CULTURE 



chopped pea hay to one pound of cotton-seed meal. In a 

 comparison of cowpea hay with timothy hay for wintering 

 yearlings, it was found that the steers made nearly 50 per 

 cent better gains where the cowpea hay was used. In a 

 three months' test at the North Carolina Experiment 

 Station with two, Percheron mares used as a team, the 

 rations differed only in the use of 10 pounds of cowpea 

 hay in one and the same quantity of wheat bran in the 

 other. The horse fed bran just held its own, while the 

 animal fed cowpea hay gained a little. 



The high price of cowpea seed prevents its use as a feed, 

 although its composition indicates that it is a richer feed 

 than wheat bran. Excellent results were obtained 

 by the Alabama Experiment Station by feeding cowpea 

 seed to fattening hogs. More lean meat was found in the 

 bodies of the pigs fed cowpeas than in those fed corn meal 

 only. Cracked or split seeds, and also whole seeds have 

 been fed to poultry with splendid results. Not only were 

 the fowls kept in good condition, but a good production 

 of eggs resulted, even in the winter months. 



The straw obtained when cowpea seed is secured by run- 

 ning the vines through a thrashing machine is valuable as 

 feed. Certain types of machines chop the straw so that 

 it is in fine condition for feed. There is, however, lack 

 of experimental data with regard to the feeding value of 

 this straw. Reports from farmers and others who have 

 fed the straw indicate that it is an excellent feed. 



615. Cowpeas in broadcast mixtures. To furnish 

 support to the vines as well as to facilitate curing, cowpeas 

 are often planted in combination with some other crop. 

 When broadcasted or drilled, millet, sorghum, Johnson- 

 grass, or soybeans may thus be used. The ideal mixture 

 would be a stiff-stemmed easily curing grass that matures 



