Relative value of field pea supplementation compared with distillers grains for growing cattle grazing crested wheatgrass

Abstract

Objective: The objective was to determine a salvage value for field peas (FP) relative to dried distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS) and establish a pricing system for FP as a supplement for growing cattle in regions where FP are grown and DDGS has limited availability. Materials and Methods: In a 2-yr study, 114 heifers each year (294 ± 34.6 kg, yr 1; 306 ± 16.3 kg, yr 2) grazed crested wheatgrass pastures (n = 12). Treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with the main factors being supplement type (FP or DDGS) and level (0.4 or 0.8% of BW). Pasture was the experimental unit, and cattle were blocked by BW. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design. Results and Discussion: There were no interactions between supplement type and level (P > 0.22). Level of supplement was not different (P > 0.15) for ADG (1.00 vs. 1.06 kg/d) or BW (416 vs. 421 kg) for 0.4 versus 0.8% BW, respectively. Heifers supplemented DDGS had greater gain (P = 0.02) than those supplemented FP (1.09 vs. 0.98 kg/d, respectively). Final BW was greater for heifers supplemented with DDGS (425 kg) compared with FP (411 kg; P = 0.04). Field pea–supplemented heifers had 10% lower ADG and 9% greater cost of gain compared with DDGS-supplemented heifers. Implications and Applications: Field peas are an acceptable grazing supplement but result in ADG 10% less than DDGS, with a supplement cost of gain 9% greater than DDGS, warranting approximately 10% price reduction before transportation.