Whenever Oklahoma farmers gather, a common positive topic comes into many conversations . Frequently the bright spot is that alfalfa was better to us than most crop. In spite of some low hay yields, alfalfa saved many farms. The price for good quality hay was good and many farmers used their alfalfa stands for grazing during the drought. When alfalfa stops growing during a drought, the standing forage still has a relatively high nutritive value and can keep livestock in good shape, with little supplement.
Bloat is of little concern, especially in grassy alfalfa, during a drought.
Even when rains come and the plants grow, bloat can be managed to minimize losses. Some alfalfa producers have kept their animals on the alfalfa continuously for several months. Droughty alfalfa stands can withstand continuous grazing, but rotational stocking is best when the alfalfa is growing. Interseeded alfalfa in pastures also demonstrated how resilient this species is. This is a critical time of year for alfalfa, whether you are using it in a hay field or grazing it.