Crimped peas and beans as a protein source for pregnant ewes

Peas and beans can be used in ruminant diets as a useful source of energy and protein. Peas and beans on average contain around 26% protein in the dry matter. They are both high in energy, containing 13.6 to 14 MJ/kgDM and provide an excellent source of starch too. For the purposes of this trial crimped peas and beans were purchased from another farm.   

What was done

180 ewes were selected from the flock and six groups of approximately 30 twin bearing ewes were allocated to one of two dietary treatments:

  1. Standard diet - TMR based on grass silage, maize and a 50% crude protein concentrate
  2. Peas and beans – TMR based on grass silage, maize and crimped peas and beans 

Three groups of 30 ewes were allocated to each treatment and were housed on opposite sides of the same shed.

The majority of the ewes and lambs were turned out to grass within 36 hours of lambing. All sheep were grazing on the same fields. The weather was challenging through lambing and early lactation with many wet and cold days and a number of lambs succumbed to joint ill. 

TMR Rations

The silage, peas and beans were analysed to form the below diets for both groups. Diets were designed to deliver the same amount of Metabolisable Energy and Metabolisable Protein.

TMR diet - Standard

Standard diet

 

Weeks before lambing

 

Kg/head/day

7

5

3

1

Twins

Silage

4.7

4.7

4.7

4.5

 

Maize

0.15

0.15

0.3

0.5

 

Agrii Combi pro (50%CP)

0.10

0.15

0.15

0.15

TMR diet – Peas and beans

Peas and beans

 

Weeks before lambing

 

Kg/head/day

7

5

3

1

Twins

Silage

4.7

4.7

4.7

4.5

 

Maize

0.15

0.15

0.15

0.35

 

Peas/beans

0.15

0.25

0.30

0.30

 

Agrii Superstock 40

-

0.03

0.05

0.05

Ewes received 25g of mineral per head/day on both diets.  

Total estimated feed cost per ewe for the 7 weeks prior to lambing was £14.25 on the standard diet and £13.90 on the pea and bean ration.   

Animal performance

Lambing started on 5 March 2024. All Brix colostrum readings taken for both groups were above the recommended level of 26.

Live weight gains for all lambs reared to 10 to 13 weeks

 

Standard diet

Peas and beans

SED

P

DLWG (g/day) all lambs

0.234

(n=145)

0.275

(n=121)

0.00548

<0.001***

DLWG (g/day) ewe lambs

0.248

(n=84)

0.274

(n=65)

0.00664

0.001***

DLWG (g/day) ram lambs 

0.253

(n=61)

0.283

(n=56)

0.00916

0.001***

There was a significant difference in DLWG between the treatments with lambs growing at about 40g/day faster when born to mothers that were fed peas and beans rather than the standard concentrate mix. 

Conclusions

This pilot trial has demonstrated that crimped peas and beans can be successfully used in TMR diets for pregnant ewes with an advantage to the pea and bean diet in the order of 40g DLWG/lamb per day. This amounts to additional weight of about 2.8 kgLW over 10 weeks, which at current prices (SQQ of 654.50p/kgDW 7/9/24) is worth £8.61, with these lambs also leaving the farm earlier and releasing grazing for ewes. 

 

 Crimped peas and beans 

 

 

One group of the ewes in the shed