Photo 1: Mung bean interseeded in a pure stand bahiagrass pasture. Photo was taken on September 19, 2008.

Photo 2: Mung bean and cow peas interseeded pasture. Post-grazing, (left side) and pre-grazing (right side).

Alternative option for forage growers.

Cowpeas and mung bean interseeded bahiagrass pasture

Summer annual legumes may be a forage option providing high protein and highly digestible nutrients to cattle during hot Louisiana summer (Table 1). Mung beans and cowpeas planted in late May were ready for use in September. Forage yield on a dry matter basis was around 5000 lb per acre. The crude protein in the forage was near 20%. Compared with pure stand warm-season grass pasture (protein content about 8% and digestibility around 50%), it is obvious that these annual type warm-season legumes provide excellent quality forage in a short growing season (less than 3 months).  A grazing study with calves on those legume and bahiagrass occupied pasture demonstrated approximately 1.5 lbs of daily gains per animal while pure bahiagrass pasture fed cattle daily gain were 1.0 lbs.  Estimated forage utilization was up to 82%.  Later in the growing season, the utilization was a little bit lower at 40% because of maturity.

Table. 1. Nutrient content comparisons of pastures having different vegetations.

 

	Cowpea	Mung Bean	Pure stand  bahiagrass	†Clover/ bahiagrass	‡Clover/ bahiagrass
CP	16.9	24.6	8.9	14.1	21.6
ADF	31.6	28.8	40.6	38.0	30.1
NDF	37.2	35.4	70.3	66.4	52.8
IVTD	74.0	77.6	60.3	63.3	71.9

†: Low clover population

‡: High clover population

Next posting will discuss estimated forage utilization of mung bean and cowpea interseeded pasture.