PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFTDRAFT UGANDA 
STANDARDDUS DARS  1825 -2 
First Edition  
2024-mm-dd
Reference number  
DUS DARS 1825 -2: 2023 
© UNBS 2024 Hay as animal feed —Part 2: Alfalfa (Lucerne) hay —
SpecificationPUBLIC REVIEW DRAFTDUS DARS 1825 -2: 2023  
ii © UNBS  2024  - All rights reserved  Compliance with this standard does not, of itself confer immunity from legal obligations  
A Uganda Standard does not purport to include all necessary provisions of a contract. Users are 
responsible for its correct applicatio n 
© UNBS 2024  
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilised in any
form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without prior written 
permission from UNBS .
Requests for permission to reproduce this document should be addressed to  
The Executive Director  
Uganda National Bureau of Standards  
P.O. Box 6329  
Kampala  
Uganda  
Tel: +256 41 7 333 2 50/1/2 
Fax: +256 41 4 286 123  
E-mail: info@unbs.go.ug
Web: www.unbs.go.ugPUBLIC REVIEW DRAFTDUS DARS 1825 -2: 2023  
© UNBS  2024 - All rights reserved  iii National foreword  
Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is a parastatal under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and 
Cooperatives established under Cap 327, of the Laws of Uganda, as amen ded. UNBS is mandated to co -
ordinate the elaboration of standards and is  
(a)a member of International Organisatio n for Standardisation (ISO),
(b)a contact point for the WHO/FAO Codex Alimentarius Commission on Food Standards, and
(c)the National Enquiry Point on TBT Agreement of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
The work of preparing Uganda Standards is carried out through Technical Committees. A Technical 
Committee is established to deliberate on standards in a given field or area and consists of representatives of 
consumers, traders, ac ademicians, manufacturers, government and other stakeholders.  
Draft Uganda Standards adopted by the Technical Committee are widely circulated to stakeholders and the 
general public for comments. The committee reviews the comments before recommending the dr aft standards 
for approval and declaration as Uganda Standards by the National Standards Council.  
This Draft Uganda Standard, DUS DARS 1825 -2: 2023 ,Hay as animal feed —Part 2: Alfalfa (Lucerne) hay —
Specification , is identical with and hasbeenreproduced from an African Standard, DARS 1825 -2: 2023 ,Hay
as animal feed —Part 2: Alfalfa (Lucerne) hay —Specification ,andadopted as a Uganda Standard .
The committee responsible for this document is Technical Committee UNBS/TC 210, Animal feeds and 
feeding stuffs .
Wherever the words, “ African Standard " appear, they should be replaced by "Uganda Standard ".
DUS DARS 1825 consists of the following parts, under the general title Hay as animal feed : 
Part 1: Rhodes and natural grass hay —Specification
Part 2: Alfalfa (Lucerne) hay —SpecificationAFRICAN 
STANDARD  DARS  
1825 -2 
First Edition 2023 
 
 Reference No. DARS 1825 -2:2023(E) 
ICS 65.120  
 
 
© ARSO 20 23 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Hay as animal feed  
 
Part 2: Alfalfa (Lucerne)  hay - Specification  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 DARS  1825 -2:2023 
ii © ARSO 20 23 — All rights reserved  Table of contents  
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  1 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ .....................  1 
3 Terms and definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ .....................  1 
4 Requirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ . 2 
5 Contaminants  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ . 3 
6 Packaging and labelling  ................................ ................................ ................................ .................  3 
7 Sampling  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  3 
 
 
  DARS 1825 -2:2023 
© ARSO 20 23 — All rights reserved  iii Foreword  
 
The African Organization for Standardization (ARS O) is an African intergovernmental organization 
established by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the Organization of 
African Unity (AU)  in 1977 . One of the fundamental mandates of ARSO is to develop and harmoniz e 
African Standards (ARS) for the purpose of enhancing Africa’s internal trading capacity, increase 
Africa’s product and service competitiveness globally and uplift the welfare of African communities. The 
work of preparing African  Standards is normally carried out through ARSO  technical committees. Each 
Member State  interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been established has the 
right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, Regional Economic Communities 
(RECs), governmental and non -governmental  organizations , in liaison with ARSO , also take part in the 
work.  
 
ARSO  Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.  
 
The main task of technical committees is to prepare ARSO  Standards. Draft ARSO  Standards adopted 
by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an ARSO  
Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.  
 
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of 
patent rights. ARSO  shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.  
 
This African Standard was prepared by ARSO  TC 17, Animal feeding, feeds and feeding stuffs  
 
 
 
 
 
 
© African Organisation for Standardisation  2023 — All rights reserved* 
 
ARSO Central Secretariat  
International House 3rd Floor  
P. O. Box 57363 — 00200 City Square  
NAIROBI, KENYA  
 
Tel. +254 -20-2224561, +254 -20-3311641, +254 -20-3311608  
 
E-mail: arso@arso -oran.org  
Web: www.arso -oran.org  
  
 
* © 2023 ARSO — All rights of exploitation reserved worldwide for African Member States’ NSBs.  DARS  1825 -2:2023 
iv © ARSO 20 23 — All rights reserved   
Copyright notice  
 
This ARSO document is copyright -protected by ARSO. While the reproduction of this document 
by participants in the ARSO standards development process is permitted without prior permission 
from ARSO, neither this document nor any extract from it may be repro duced, stored or 
transmitted in any form for any other purpose without prior written permission from ARSO.  
 
Requests for permission to reproduce this document for the purpose of selling it should be 
addressed as shown below or to ARSO’s member body in the country of the requester:  
 
 
© African Organisation for Standardisation 20 23 — All rights reserved  
 
ARSO Central Secretariat  
International House 3rd Floor  
P.O. Box 57363 — 00200 City Square  
NAIROBI, KENYA  
 
Tel: +254 -20-2224561, +254 -20-3311641, +254 -20-3311608  
 
E-mail: arso@arso -oran.org  
Web: www.arso -oran.org  
 
Reproduction for sales purposes may be subject to royalty payments or a licensing agreement. 
Violators may be p rosecuted.  
 
 
 
  DARS 1825 -2:2023 
© ARSO 20 23 — All rights reserved  v Introduction  
 
Alfalfa   is among the most important forage crops in the world. Also known as “The Forage Queen,”  
Alfalfa is green, leafy legume hay that is  commonly added to livestock's feed programs to provide 
additional nutritional benefits. Also, alfalfa is a perennial grass that grows spontaneously in arid and 
semi -arid regions in Africa. This hay, rich in essent ial nutrients, makes it an excellent nutritional support 
in animal feed. Alfalfa contains between 15 % to 22 % crude protein and higher rumen degraded protein 
(RDP) content than other forages as well as an excellent source of both fat and water soluble vit amins 
(A, D, E, K) and  B (B1, B2, B3 or Niacin, B5 (Pantothenic acid), B6, B8 (Biotin), B9 (Folic acid) and 
B12) respectively and minerals (Phosphorus, Calcium, Potassium, Sodium, Chlorine, Sulfur, 
Magnesium, Copper, Manganese, Iron, Cobalt, Boron, and Mo lybdenum and some trace elements).  
 
Alfalfa is used to feed several animals, including horses, cattle, buffaloes, goats, sheep, and rabbits. 
Feeding animals with alfalfa hay helps produce better wool, meat, milk, and other products.  
Harmonizing standards for Alfalfa (Lucerne) hay encourage stakeholders in the value chain to adhere 
to safety and quality standards. This raises the safety and quality characteristics of the produced alfalfa 
hay, which promote trade exchange between Africa n countries and facilitates export operations outside 
Africa, as well as has a positive impact on the quality and safety of animal products.  Therefore, this 
standard contains the technical requirements on safety and quality of Alfalfa hay as animal feed . 
 
 
 
 
 DARS 1825 -2:2023 
© ARSO 20 23 — All rights reserved  1  
Hay as animal feed  
Part 2: Alfalfa  (Lucerne)  hay - Specification  
 
 
1 Scope  
This Draft African  Standard specifies the  requirements and test method s for alfalfa  (lucerne ) hay used 
as animal feed.  
 
2 Normative references  
The following documents are referred  to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content 
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For 
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments ) applies.  
 
ARS 56, Pre – packaged foods – Labelling  
 
CODEX STAN 193, Codex general standard for contaminants and toxins in food and feed  
 
ISO 6496, Animal feeding stuffs  — Determination of moisture and other volatile matter content  
 
ISO 5983 – 1, Animal feeding stuffs  — Determination of nitrogen content and calculation of crude 
protein content  — Part 1: Kjeldahl method  
 
ISO 6865, Animal feeding stuffs  — Determination of crude fibre content  — Method with intermediate 
filtration  
 
ISO 5984, Animal feeding stuffs — Determination of crude ash  
 
ISO 6490 -1: Animal feeding stuffs  — Determination of calcium content  — Part 1 
 
ISO 6491: Animal feeding stuffs — Determination of phosphorus content — Spectrometric method  
 
ISO 9831 - Animal feeding stuffs, animal products, and faeces or urine  — Determination of gross 
calorific value  — Bomb calorimeter method  
 
ISO 16472 - Animal feeding stuffs  — Determination of amylase -treated neutral detergent fibre content 
(aNDF)  
 
ISO 13906 - Animal feeding stuffs  — Determination of acid detergent fibre (ADF) and acid detergent 
lignin (ADL) contents  
 
ISO 27085 - Animal feeding stuffs — Determination of calcium, sodium, phosphorus, magnesium, 
potassium, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, cobalt, molybdenum, arsenic, lead and cadmium by ICP -
AES 
 
ISO 6497, Animal feeding stuffs — sampling  
 
 
 
3 Terms and definitions  
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.  
 
 
3.1 
AFRICAN STANDARD  DARS 1825 -2:2023  
2 © ARSO 20 23 — All rights reserved  alfalfa ( lucerne)  hay 
perennial legume of the species sativa  that has been cut, dried and baled for use as feed. 
 
 
4 Requirements  
4.1 General requirements  
 
Alfalfa (Alfalfa)  hay; 
 
a) shall be p resented in form of bales  
b) shall be free from harmful constituents, including weeds, stones, soil, metallic objects 
poisonous plants and seeds and other adulterants  
c) shall be free from moulds, pathogenic bacteria or insect infestation  
d) shall be f ree from musty, rancid ity or uncharacteristic odour.  
e) shall be f ree from rain damage  
f) shall be f ree from plant pests and diseases  
g) shall be f ree from animal pests and disease -causing  agent  
h) shall not be infe sted with parasites that are transmitted to animals and humans.  
 
4.2 Specific requirements for Lucerne  (Alfalfa)  Hay 
 
Lucerne (Alfalfa) h ay shall also comply with the nutritional requirements specified in Table 1.  
 
Table 1 - Nutritional requirements for alfalfa (lucerne) hay  
SL No  Parameters  Limits  Test method  
1.  Moisture content % (max.)  14,0 ISO 6496  
2.  Crude protein , % DM, min  18,0 ISO 5983 - 1 
3.  Crude Fiber , % DM, max. 30,0 ISO 6865  
4.  Neutral Detergent Fibre (NDF),  % DM, 
max. 50,0 ISO 16472  
5.  Acid Detergent Fibre (ADF) , % DM , max. 35,0 ISO 13906  
6.  Total ash , % DM,  max.  10,0 ISO 5984  
7.  Calcium , % DM , min.  0,2 ISO 6490 -1 
8.  Phosphorous % DM, min.  0,1 ISO 6 491 
 
  DARS 1825 -2:2023 
© ARSO 20 23 — All rights reserved  3 5 Contaminants  
5.1 Heavy metal s 
 
Lucerne ( Alfalfa)  hay shall comply with the maximum limits of heavy metals as  specified in the Table 2 . 
 
Table 2 - Heavy metal limits for alfalfa (lucerne) hay  
S/N Heavy metal s  Maximum limit  
mg/kg  Test method  
1.  Arsenic  4,0  
ISO 27085  
2.  Lead  3,0 
3.  Cadmium  1,0 
4.  Mercury  0,1 
 
5.2 Pesticide residues  
 
Lucerne ( Alfalfa)  hay s hall not exceed the  pesticide residue  limits established by the Codex Alimentarius 
Commission on contaminants . 
 
5.3 Aflatoxins  
 
Total aflatoxin level shall not exceed 20 ppb while aflatoxin B1 shall not exceed 10ppb. 
 
6 Packaging and labelling   
6.1 Packaging  
 
6.1.1 Lucerne ( Alfalfa)  hay for sale shall be baled using sufficiently strong twines so as to withstand 
reasonable handling without tearing or  falling open during transportation and storage.  
 
6.1.2 Lucerne ( Alfalfa)  hay   shall be transported  in clean vehicles and the hay should be covered  
with waterproof material . 
 
6.2 Label ling 
 
In addition to the requirements in ARS 56, each package shall be legibly and  indelibly marked with the 
following ; 
 
a) Type of hay ( Alfalfa )Name  and the physical address of the producer.  
b) Net weight.  
c) Batch number  
d) Date of harvest /production  
e) Best before  
f) Instruction for storage  
g) Nutritional information ( Energy (ME), Crude protein (CP) and Crude fibre (CF)  content  
7 Sampling  
Sampling shall be done in accordance with ISO 6497.  
 
 DARS 1825 -2:2023 
© ARSO 2023 — All rights reserved