Cultivation

Fodder Use of Small-Seeded Faba Bean

Vicia faba L. var. minuta (hort. ex Alef.) Mansf.

Small-seeded faba beans are specialized as a source of high-protein feed and as a green manure crop. The grain is used in compound feeds to partially replace soybean meal, providing an energy value of approximately 1.36 Fodder Units (FU) per 1 kg.

In the reference 128 varieties crop Tick Bean, where this is mentioned in the description.

Small-seeded faba beans differ from large-seeded forms by their smaller, hard-coated seeds and erect habit due to the lack of clinging tendrils. The crop is grown primarily for grain for livestock and as a green manure.

The use of grain in diets is limited by the presence of antinutritional factors, such as the glycoside phasin, the alkaloid trigonelline, and the amino acid dihydroxyphenylalanine. To improve digestibility and neutralize these compounds, mandatory heat treatment of the seeds is required before feeding.

General information about the subject — on the page Forage purpose.

Sources8

Varieties of Tick Bean mentioned in the description

Selection based on the description text, not on official evaluation: these data are absent from registers. For specific variety details, please refer to its profile.