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Biblioteca Cowpea in evolving livestock systems

Cowpea in evolving livestock systems

Cowpea in evolving livestock systems

Resource information

Date of publication
Diciembre 2012
Resource Language
ISBN / Resource ID
handle:10568/33516
License of the resource

Demand for livestock products has been increasing through much of the semi-arid

tropics and will likely continue to increase along with the use of purchased feedstuffs. As

smallholder livestock systems evolve and become more market oriented, the type of diets

fed to livestock may change and the importance of feed marketing may increase. Mixed

crop–livestock systems are key to meeting this increasing livestock product demand and

cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp.) fodder (haulms) is an important component of these

systems in semi-arid regions of the tropics where its high nutritional quality allows it to be

used as a supplement to livestock diets based on cereal stovers and other low-quality

forages. Improving the nutritional quality of cowpea fodder for use by livestock is important

to improving the productivity and profitability of these mixed farming systems. Legume

fodders will remain an important part of changing livestock diets and the development of

cowpea varieties that better feed both people and their farm animals will give farmers new

and better choices for improving levels and efficiency of livestock production. Cowpea

breeding programs have worked toward producing dual-purpose varieties that emphasize

the production of grain and fodder since the late 1980s and have produced several that

have become well accepted when tested on-farm. Systematic screening of cowpea genetic

resources is important for advancing development of dual-purpose varieties. Involvement

of cultivar release agencies and seed production programs are also important to advance

the use of improved dual-purpose crop varieties.

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Authors and Publishers

Author(s), editor(s), contributor(s)

Tarawali, S.A.
Blummel, M.
Musa, A.
Fatokun, C.
Hearne, S.
Boukar, O.
Grings, Elaine E.

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