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Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) seeds

Datasheet

Description
Click on the "Nutritional aspects" tab for recommendations for ruminants, pigs, poultry, rabbits, horses, fish and crustaceans
Cowpea, black variety, Vietnam
Barbatti seeds, urban region of Raipur, Chhattisgarh (India)
Barbatti pods, India
Black-eyed peas (Vigna unguiculata subsp. unguiculata)
Common names 

Cowpea, asparagus bean, black-eyed pea, catjang, catjang cowpea, Chinese long bean, clay pea, cow-pea, cream pea, crowder pea, pea bean, purple-hull pea, southern pea, sow pea, yard-long bean [English]; dolique asperge, dolique mongette, haricot asperge, haricot indigène, niébé, pois à vaches [French]; feijão-espargo, feijão-fradinho [Portuguese]; costeño, frijol de costa, judía catjang, judía espárrago, rabiza [Spanish]; اللوبياء [Arabic]; adua, ayi, too, tipielega, yo, tuya, saau [Ghana]; wake, ezo, nyebbe, ngalo, azzo, dijok, alev, arebe, lubia, mongo, ewa, akedi, akoti [Nigeria]; kunde [Swahili]; Kedesche, sona, kadje, tombing, isanje [Togo]; imbumba, indumba, isihlumaya [Zulu]; kacang bol, kacang merah, kacang toonggak, kacang béngkok [Indonesian]; đậu dải, đậu dải trắng rốn nâu [Vietnamese]

  • Cowpeas, cowpea seeds, cowpea beans
  • Cowpea seed waste, cowpea hulls
Species 

Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. [Fabaceae]

Synonyms 

Dolichos biflorus L., Dolichos catjang Burm. f., Dolichos hastifolius Schnizl., Dolichos lubia Forssk., Dolichos melanophtalmus DC., Dolichos melanophthalamus DC., Dolichos monachalis Brot., Dolichos obliquifolius Schnizl., Dolichos sinensis L., Dolichos tranquebaricus Jacq., Dolichos unguiculatus L., Liebrechtsia scabra De Wild., Phaseolus sphaerospermus L., Phaseolus unguiculatus (L.) Piper, Vigna brachycalyx Baker f., Vigna catjang (Burm. f.) Walp., Vigna catjiang (Burm. f.) Walp., Vigna scabra (De Wild.) T. Durand & H. Durand, Vigna scabrida Burtt Davy, Vigna sinensis (L.) Savi ex Hausskn., Vigna sinensis (L.) Savi ex Hausskn. var. catiang sensu Chiov., Vigna sinensis (L.) Savi ex Hausskn. subsp. sinensis (L.) Hassk., Vigna sinensis (L.) Savi ex Hausskn. var. spontanea Schweinf., Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp., Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. subsp. dekindtiana sensu Verdc. (ILDIS, 2009)

Feed categories 
Related feed(s) 
Description 

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) is one of the most popular grain legumes in Africa as well as in some regions of America and Asia. The main subspecies is Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. subsp. unguiculata (L.) Walp. Cowpea is often called "black-eyed pea" due to its black- or brown-ringed hylum. Cowpea is called the "hungry-season crop" because it is the first crop to be harvested before the cereal crops (Gomez, 2004). Its fresh or dried seeds, pods and leaves are commonly used as human food. Since they are highly valuable as food, cowpeas are only occasionally used to feed livestock but the hay and silage can be an important fodder. Cowpea has great flexibility in use: farmers can choose to harvest them for grains or to harvest forage for their livestock, depending on economical or climatological constraints (Gomez, 2004). Dual-purpose varieties have been developed in order to provide both grain and fodder while suiting the different cropping systems encountered in Africa (Tarawali et al., 1997). Cowpea by-products such as cowpea seed waste and cowpea hulls (which result from the dehulling of the seeds for food) have been used to replace conventional feedstuffs in some developing countries (Ikechukwu, 2000).

Distribution 

Cowpea is native to Central Africa. It is widespread throughout the tropics and most tropical areas between 40°N to 30°S and below an altitude of 2000 m (Ecocrop, 2009). Cowpea is grown in over 2/3 of the developing world as a companion or relay crop with major cereal (Tarawali et al., 1997). In 1996, the estimated world total area was about 12 million ha, and Africa alone accounted for over 8 million ha, of which about 70% were in West and Central Africa (Singh et al., 1996). In other areas, notably in Australia and Asia, cowpea is primarily a fodder crop and used for green manure or as a cover crop (Tarawali et al., 1997).

Cowpea grows in savannah vegetation at temperatures ranging from 25°C to 35°C and in areas where annual rainfall ranges from 750 mm to 1100 mm (Madamba et al., 2006). Cowpea is tolerant of shading and can be combined with tall cereal plants such as sorghum and maize (FAO, 2013). Cowpea grows on a wide range of soils provided they are well drained (Madamba et al., 2006). It is sensitive to waterlogging, though less than other legumes (Ecocrop, 2009). High moisture may hinder cowpea crops in the sub-humid tropics due to the many diseases they are susceptible to (Tarawali et al., 1997).

Nutritional aspects
Potential constraints 

Cowpeas contain antinutritional factors including lectins, trypsin inhibitors and tannins (Makinde et al., 1997). In cowpea flour, lipoxygenase activity results in higher free fatty acids and fat acidity, decreasing storage stability and product quality (bitterness and "beany" taste) (Kasirye-Alemu, 1980). Treatments such as autoclaving have been proposed to alleviate this problem and increase the suitability of cowpea flour for human food (Prinyawiwatkula et al., 1996). There are no published reports on the effects of lipoxygenase activity on the nutritive value of feeds based on cowpeas (2012).

Ruminants 

Cowpea seeds

In a comparison of several legume seeds in the Southern Great Plains of the USA, the protein and in vitro digestible DM of cowpeas indicated that they could be efficient replacements for maize or cottonseed meal in livestock diets, assuming that cowpea could generate enough grain biomass to be cost-effective. Though not as efficient as soybean as a protein source, cowpea was capable of accumulating useful levels of protein and digestible dry matter under the variable growing conditions of the study (Rao et al., 2009). Cowpeas replacing 100% of groundnut cake in growing lamb diets had a positive effect on roughage intake and growth performance (Singh et al., 2006). Supplementation with cowpeas of sheep fed low quality roughages resulted in higher dry matter intake and organic matter digestibility (Paduano et al., 1995). Cowpeas used as a source of urease on buffalo male calves fed urea treated straw resulted in increased body weight gain and dry matter digestibility (Sarwar et al., 1995).

Cowpea seed waste

Cowpea seed waste successfully replaced groundnut cake, corn bran or wheat offal in goat diets (Olubunmi et al., 2005).

Pigs 

Raw cowpea seeds

Raw cowpeas caused lower growth performance in weaner pigs, which may be due to antigenic factors causing damage to the intestinal mucosa (Makinde et al., 1997). However, the introduction of creep feeding before weaning had some ameliorative effects (Makinde et al., 1997).

Processed cowpea seeds

Physical treatment such as dry fractionation or heating of cowpea beans may alleviate antinutritional problems in weaner pigs (Makinde et al., 1996). Soaked and crushed cowpea beans ensiled with sow milk bacteria were a valuable feed for weanling pigs (Martens et al., 2012).

Poultry 

Cowpea seeds

It is recommended to process cowpea seeds to decrease the antinutritional factors before feeding the seeds to poultry. Dried and ground cowpeas included at 16% in starter broiler diets had no negative effects (Trompiz et al., 2002). Cooked and sun-dried cowpea seeds included at up to 20% in the diet did not have deleterious effects on live-weight gain, feed conversion ratio, feed cost/kg live-weight and carcass quality (Chakam et al., 2010). Dehulling, combined dehulling and roasting, or the addition of enzymes increased feed intake, body weight gain and protein intake when processed cowpeas were included at 15% in chicken diets (Belal et al., 2011). Boiled cowpeas could replace meat meal in broilers when included at 11% in starter diets and at 14% in finisher diets. Broilers finished with cowpea had a higher carcass yield than broilers fed other legumes (Defang et al., 2008). Sun-dried cowpeas successfully replaced 75% of soybean meal in broiler diets (Lon-Wo et al., 2000). In both cases, feed cost was significantly reduced. The general conclusion is that inclusion of processed cowpeas is feasible up to 15-20% in broiler diets but deleterious at higher levels. In Sudan, however, the inclusion of 30% cowpeas, partially replacing groundnut meal and sorghum, improved weight gain, feed conversion ratio, dressing percentage and carcass quality (Eljack et al., 2009).

Cowpea hulls

Though they result in lower animal performance because of their high fibre content, cowpea hulls are inexpensive potential feedstuffs and have been assessed as a replacer of conventional feedstuffs in poultry diets. Cowpea hulls were used to replace defatted soybean meal in diets for geese. Though increasing levels of cowpea hulls decreased overall performance, it was possible to include up to 25% cowpea hulls in diets for ganders (Ningsanond et al., 1992). For starter and finisher broilers, cowpea hulls were used to replace maize offal and maize grain (Ikechukwu, 2000). Chicken fed on raw cowpea hulls had a lower performance than those fed on conventional diets, but inclusion of cowpea hulls at up to 15% in starter and finisher diets was more cost effective than conventional diets (Ikechukwu, 2000).

There have been attempts to reduce fibrousness of cowpea hulls by different physico-chemical treatments such as soaking plus boiling or soaking for 3 days. It was shown that soaking for 3 days reduced fibre content and increased carbohydrates, maybe due to fermentation during soaking (Adebiyi et al., 2010).

Fish 

Asian sea bass (Lates calcarifer)

White cowpea seeds could be used as a protein source to replace 18% of Asian sea bass diets without affecting growth (Eusebio et al., 2000).

Crustaceans 

Prawns

Several forms of cowpea (raw, dehulled, cooked, germinated and extruded) used in Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) diets were found to be a good source of nutrients. Boiled or extruded seeds had the highest nutritive values (Rivas-Vega et al., 2006). Indian prawns (Fenneropenaeus indicus, formerly Penaeus indicus) fed a soybean meal-based diet, where cowpea seeds replaced 9% of the protein, had a similar weight gain, growth rate and survival rate as those fed the control diet (Eusebio et al., 1998).

Nutritional tables
Tables of chemical composition and nutritional value 

Avg: average or predicted value; SD: standard deviation; Min: minimum value; Max: maximum value; Nb: number of values (samples) used

Main analysis Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb  
Dry matter % as fed 89.9 2.1 85.8 94.6 38  
Crude protein % DM 25.2 2.2 18.2 30.4 51  
Crude fibre % DM 5.6 1.9 2.5 10.5 41  
NDF % DM 16.6 5.6 9.7 26.7 10  
ADF % DM 6.5 1.5 4.0 8.8 10  
Lignin % DM 0.8 1.0 0.3 3.4 8  
Ether extract % DM 1.6 0.6 0.5 3.9 48  
Ash % DM 4.1 0.6 3.1 5.8 47  
Starch (polarimetry) % DM 47.8 5.9 40.7 55.5 7  
Total sugars % DM 4.6 3.0 0.4 7.1 4  
Gross energy MJ/kg DM 18.7 1.1 17.3 20.8 12 *
               
Minerals Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb  
Calcium g/kg DM 1.1 0.6 0.3 2.7 30  
Phosphorus g/kg DM 4.2 0.9 2.1 5.4 32  
Potassium g/kg DM 15.0 2.4 12.8 21.5 18  
Sodium g/kg DM 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 3  
Magnesium g/kg DM 2.2 0.3 1.6 2.8 18  
Manganese mg/kg DM 20 8 14 32 4  
Zinc mg/kg DM 38 9 24 46 5  
Copper mg/kg DM 9 4 6 14 5  
Iron mg/kg DM 422 623 96 1356 4  
               
Amino acids Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb  
Alanine % protein 4.2 0.5 3.4 5.1 7  
Arginine % protein 6.7 1.3 5.0 8.7 9  
Aspartic acid % protein 10.4 1.4 9.2 12.7 7  
Cystine % protein 1.1 0.2 0.6 1.4 11  
Glutamic acid % protein 15.8 1.8 14.1 18.7 7  
Glycine % protein 3.9 0.5 3.1 4.8 9  
Histidine % protein 3.1 0.5 2.4 4.1 8  
Isoleucine % protein 4.0 0.7 2.8 5.2 8  
Leucine % protein 7.4 1.6 5.8 11.3 9  
Lysine % protein 6.5 0.6 5.2 7.1 13  
Methionine % protein 1.4 0.2 0.9 1.6 12  
Phenylalanine % protein 5.5 0.6 4.4 6.4 9  
Proline % protein 4.6 0.8 3.8 5.7 6  
Serine % protein 4.9 0.6 3.8 5.6 7  
Threonine % protein 3.8 0.6 3.0 5.3 9  
Tryptophan % protein 1.1   0.9 1.3 2  
Tyrosine % protein 3.0 0.3 2.6 3.6 8  
Valine % protein 4.7 0.6 3.4 5.5 9  
               
Secondary metabolites Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb  
Tannins (eq. tannic acid) g/kg DM 5.0 3.9 1.3 11.5 7  
Tannins, condensed (eq. catechin) g/kg DM 18.8 18.2 0.0 37.7 4  
               
Ruminant nutritive values Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb  
OM digestibility, ruminants % 92.2         *
Energy digestibility, ruminants % 90.5         *
DE ruminants MJ/kg DM 16.9         *
ME ruminants MJ/kg DM 13.6         *
               
Pig nutritive values Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb  
Energy digestibility, growing pig % 81.4         *
DE growing pig MJ/kg DM 15.2         *
MEn growing pig MJ/kg DM 14.5         *
NE growing pig MJ/kg DM 10.5         *
Nitrogen digestibility, growing pig % 72.3       1  
               
Poultry nutritive values Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb  
AMEn broiler MJ/kg DM 13.4 1.2 12.0 14.1 3  

The asterisk * indicates that the average value was obtained by an equation.

References

AFZ, 2011; Allan et al., 2000; Cerighelli et al., 1960; CGIAR, 2009; CIRAD, 1991; CIRAD, 2008; Devendra et al., 1970; Garg et al., 2002; Gowda et al., 2004; Jagadi et al., 1987; Kalidass et al., 2012; Katoch, 2013; Khan et al., 1957; Le Dividich et al., 1975; Lim Han Kuo, 1967; Maliboungou et al., 1998; Nell et al., 1992; Nwokolo et al., 1985; Oluyemi et al., 1976; Omogbai, 1990; Owusu-Domfeh et al., 1970; Paduano et al., 1995; Ravindran et al., 1994; Rivas-Vega et al., 2006; Robinson et al., 2001; Sen, 1938; Singh et al., 2006; Tiwari et al., 2006

Last updated on 26/11/2015 11:07:18

Main analysis Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
Dry matter % as fed 87.9 5.4 78.9 93.2 9
Crude protein % DM 26.1 1.6 23.7 28.9 11
Crude fibre % DM 4.1 2.1 0.7 7.3 10
NDF % DM 21.3 1
Ether extract % DM 1.7 0.7 0.6 2.6 9
Ash % DM 4.8 2.1 2.9 10.6 11
Starch (polarimetry) % DM 48.5 6.0 41.8 53.2 3
Total sugars % DM 0.4 1
Gross energy MJ/kg DM 19.2 1.8 17.2 21.2 5
 
Minerals Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
Calcium g/kg DM 0.9 0.6 0.3 1.6 4
Phosphorus g/kg DM 2.7 2.6 0.4 5.1 4
 
Amino acids Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
Alanine % protein 3.4 1
Arginine % protein 4.6 1
Aspartic acid % protein 9.6 1
Cystine % protein 1.1 1
Glutamic acid % protein 14.1 1
Glycine % protein 3.1 1
Histidine % protein 2.3 1
Isoleucine % protein 2.7 1
Leucine % protein 5.8 1
Lysine % protein 4.9 1
Methionine % protein 1.1 1
Phenylalanine % protein 4.1 1
Proline % protein 4.9 1
Serine % protein 4.3 1
Threonine % protein 2.9 1
Valine % protein 3.4 1
 
Secondary metabolites Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
Tannins (eq. tannic acid) g/kg DM 2.4 1
Tannins, condensed (eq. catechin) g/kg DM 0.0 1
 
Ruminant nutritive values Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
OM digestibility, Ruminant % 92.7 *
Energy digestibility, ruminants % 91.0 *
DE ruminants MJ/kg DM 17.5 *
ME ruminants MJ/kg DM 14.1 *
 
Pig nutritive values Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
Energy digestibility, growing pig % 83.6 *
DE growing pig MJ/kg DM 16.1 *
MEn growing pig MJ/kg DM 15.3 *
NE growing pig MJ/kg DM 11.1 *
Nitrogen digestibility, growing pig % 78.8 1
 
Poultry nutritive values Unit Avg SD Min Max Nb
AMEn broiler MJ/kg DM 14.9 1.7 13.0 16.1 3

The asterisk * indicates that the average value was obtained by an equation.

References

AFZ, 2011; Garg et al., 2002; Le Dividich et al., 1975; Le Dividich, 1973; Nell et al., 1992; Nwokolo et al., 1985; Oluyemi et al., 1976; Rivas-Vega et al., 2006

Last updated on 24/10/2012 00:43:16

References
References 
Adebiyi, O. A.; Ologhobo, A. D.; Adu, O. A.; Olasehinde, T. O., 2010. Evaluation of the nutritional potentials of physically treated cowpea seed hulls in poultry feed. Emirates J. Food Agric., 22 (3): 232-239 web icon
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Belal, N. G.; Abdelati, K. A.; Albala, S.; Elawad, S., 2011. Effect of dietary processed cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) seeds on broiler performance and internal organ weights. Res. J. Anim. Vet. Sc., 6: 6-11 web icon
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Datasheet citation 

Heuzé V., Tran G., 2015. Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) seeds. Feedipedia, a programme by INRAE, CIRAD, AFZ and FAO. https://feedipedia.org/node/232 Last updated on May 11, 2015, 14:31

English correction by Tim Smith (Animal Science consultant) and Hélène Thiollet (AFZ)
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