The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-09-10
value of Alfalfa to Farm Animals.


 The Bureau of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture has re- gently published a study by I. D. Gra- ham of the use of alfalfa for the grow ing and fattening of animals in the Great Plains regioon. The results att tained by experiments, while of ines timable value to live stock growers in the region mentioned. there is no req son why some of the lessons taught should not be considered by stock men in other sections.
 Horses and mules, 1t Is stated. thrive on alfalfa pasutre1 While alfalfa is too rich food for mature horses un- less used in combination with some other roughness, 1t is an excellent feed for young horses. as 1t seems to con- tain just the clements necessary to develop bone. muscle. and consequent size. Caution should be used. how ever, in feeding alfalfa to horses. par ticularly If they have not been accus- toned to it. Like other conceptrat feeds. 1t seems to stimulate all the physical processes to such an extent ' that various disorders of the digestive | system may appear. This Is particu- larly noticeable in the urinary and perspiratory glands. When alfalfa is fed to horses in con- siderable quantity the grain ration |
 an abundance of other roughness fur
 nished. When horses have attained a
 mature age and 1t Is desirable to change
 from other hay to alfalfa, this change | must be very gradual. and the alfalfa selected for this purpose should be more advanced in growth at the time of cutting than that which is to he ] fed to cattle or sheep. As a general | statement, very ripe alfalfa hay Is the best to use for work horses and driv- | ing horses, while that prepared in the | usual way--that is. cut when the field is about one-tenth in bloom--is better | for the colts. In any event. horses thai
 are few alfalfa hay must pc giver abundant exercise.
 For dairy and beef cattle and fol l sheep alfalfa has given very good re.
 suits. As regards the use of alfalfa l hay for pigs 1t is considered better tc cut 1t early so that 1erger propor- ton of leaves may be saved and con- sequently n larger proportion of pro | tein conserved. A late cutting, after
 the leaves have fallen somewhat ant 1 the stem hardened, is better for horses
 but for pigs, especially growing pigs | the crop should be so harvested as tC
 save the largest number of leaves. Ex l perience teaches also that the third o | fourth crop Is better for pigs because
 1t is softer and more palatablc. It 1! | always wise to provide some sort of { trough or rack with a floor in it fol
 feeding alfalfa to hogs.
 Alfalfa in its green state. or wheT
 used as hay or ensilage. is a hrst-clasi | poultry food. Poultry will pasture or
 it during the summer and thrive.
 is best for poultry to use the last cut
 ting of alfalfa, as it is softer in tex ture. has larger proportion of leaves
 less woody matter, and is more succu
 lent than any other cutting. While
 poultry of all classes will eat alfalfs
 hay, or at least the leaves from it, anG
 thrive, 1t is undoubtedly a better prac
 tice to chop 1t or grind it and mis
 1t with a grain ration. A good prac
 tice Is to steep the alfalfa hay In ho
 water and let 1t stand for several hour
 before feeding.-Southern Agricultur 1 ist.