Peas may be a candidate crop for integrating silvoarable systems and dairy buffalo farming in southern Italy

Integration of trees with agricultural crops and livestock systems may offer advantages in term of productivity, economic return, and sustainability. In order to identify a candidate crop for Mediterranean silvoarable systems to be used in livestock farming as a protein source locally produced, a study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of feeding peas (Pisum sativum L.) as main protein source on milk yield and in vivo digestibility of primiparous buffaloes. Two almost isonitrogenous concentrates (on average, crude protein 240 g/kg dry matter) were formulated to contain, as fed basis, either 350 g/kg of soybean cake (SoyC) or 450 g/kg of extruded peas (PeaC) as the main protein source. Twenty primiparous buffaloes were blocked by age and body weight into two dietary treatments (Soyand Pea) from 10 to 100 day in milk. All cows were fed in the barn a total mixed ration containing 3 kg of SoyC and in the milking parlour they were individually supplemented by either 3 kg of SoyC or PeaC according to the group assignment. The substitution rate of soybean protein by pea protein was approximately 30%. Milk yield was not affected by the dietary use of extruded peas, as well as, milk fat and protein percentages, and clotting properties. Moreover, in vivo digestibility did not differ between the two dietary groups. Results support the partial substitution of soybean cake with extruded peas in diets for lactating buffaloes