Feeding Field Peas to Livestock

EB-76, May 2002

Field pea (Pisum sativum L.) is an annual cool-season legume crop that is grown around the world on over 25 million acres. Although many countries produce field pea, only a limited few such as Canada, Australia and the United States produce surplus amounts to be net exporters. A significant amount of field pea is produced annually in the upper Great Plains of the United States and the Prairie Provinces of Canada.

In 2001, field pea was produced on 3,600,000 acres in Canada with an estimated yield of 3,150,400 tons. Total US production was 227,000 tons with North Dakota accounting for 86,000 tons (38%) from approximately 100,000 acres. Field pea production in the United States had been primarily in the Palouse region of Washington and Idaho. However, acreage shifts and expansions have occurred where now North Dakota and surrounding states have become the primary source of feed peas in the United States.

Projections are for continued expansion of field pea acres in North Dakota and surrounding states. This expansion comes as growers across the region begin to recognize that field pea is well adapted to most regions of the Great Plains and the crop contributes many positive benefits to their overall crop rotation. In addition, the marketplace has developed so growers can more readily market their crop both locally and regionally. Field pea yields compare favorably with spring wheat, and the general trend would be a higher expected yield for field pea versus spring wheat, within a specific region. Yield data from North Dakota State University research centers shows that field pea performs well across the state (Table 1).

Currently, about 30% of the domestic dry pea production is consumed in the food and feed markets within the United States. Efforts are being made to continually expand the feed market in the United States. As feed companies are finding the nutritional value of dry peas encouraging, they are drawn to experiment with field pea in their products. The ideal growing conditions within the upper Great Plains states and the expected acreage expansion will position the United States to successfully satisfy any expanding domestic feed markets

Field pea or "dry pea" differs from fresh peas in that field pea is marketed as a dry, shelled product for either human or livestock food, whereas fresh peas are marketed as a fresh or canned vegetable. Field peas are desirable for both human and livestock nutrition due to their contributions of protein, carbohydrates, and amino acids. Research has shown that field peas possess many positive attributes for animal nutrition and hence are an excellent supplement to beef, dairy, swine and poultry rations. The seed of field pea produces a dense product (test weight = 60 pounds per bushel) that stores well and is easily handled and processed.

Producers have the option of selecting field pea varieties with many contrasting characteristics. Seed color and seed size are two traits that vary and impact acceptance in the human edible market. However, all field pea varieties may be considered feed grade peas. Varieties intended for specialty markets, such as maple peas, often have brown colored seeds. These varieties have higher levels of tannin that may reduce palatability in livestock rations. The crude protein content of field pea may vary due to the influence of variety and the environment in which the crop was grown. Because of this variance the seed should be tested for protein levels to allow the most efficient utilization in rations.

Field pea may also be grown as a forage crop. When grown as a forage, field pea is typically planted as a mixture with cereal grains to enhance the protein concentration of the forage.

Field pea storage is handled like most other commodities that are raised in the upper Great Plains. This is especially the case for field peas intended for the feed markets where issues of maintaining human grade standards is not a concern. Storage on-farm or at local grain elevators positions the crop to be readily moved to processors or livestock operations through traditional truck and rail connections. Specific elevators are prepared to make unit train shipments of field peas to major domestic livestock operations or to international feed markets.

Table 1.Statewide field pea variety trials, 2000 - seed yield.

Variety	Carrington	Dickinson	Erie	Hettinger	Langdon	Minot	Williston	Average
Yellow	Bushels/acre
Carneval	50.7	40.9	45.6	30.2	68.5	61.5	48.4	49.4
Grande	35.8	46.0	39.1	27.1	59.5	47.4	50.7	43.7
Highlight	46.8	46.5	53.3	37.3	78.3	63.9	55.9	54.6
Profi	46.5	39.8	53.0	33.6	68.8	55.6	53.7	50.1
Trapper	23.0	44.0	16.6	12.0	28.6	32.2	46.3	29.0
Green
Atomic	55.5	37.0	45.7	47.0	63.8	52.7	46.1	49.7
Majoret	48.8	43.9	48.7	35.1	66.1	63.7	47.5	50.5
Mean	50.4	43.2	46.0	35.3	67.5	56.6	50.9	—
LSD 5%	7.1	8.6	5.4	11.4	8.3	10.9	0.2	—

For more information on this and other topics, see: www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu

• Field Pea in Beef Cattle Diets Vern Anderson
• Field Peas in Dairy Cattle Diets J.W. Schroeder
• Field Pea in Swine Diets Doug Landblom
• Field Pea in Sheep Diets G.P. Lardy, M.L. Bauer, E.R. Loe
• Field Pea in Poultry Diets R.L. Harrold