Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1906-05-10
ALFALFA
AS FOOD
To Get Best Results Care
and Experience are
Both Needed,

The bureau of animal industry OF
the department of agriculture has
recently published study by l. ID.
Graham on the use of alfalfa for the
growing and fattening of animals
in the great plains region. The
results attained by experiments are
of incstimablc value to livestock
growers in the region mentioned.
Some of the questions considered
in the experiments were the compo-
sition and digestibility of alfalfa,
the calculated cost of nutriments
supplied by alfalfa and other feed
ing stuffs, the value of alfalfa hay
cut at different periods of growth,
alfalfa as pasturagc, soiling, and
hay crop, alfalfa meal, and the val
ue of alfalfa fresh and cured, for
different kind of farm animals and
for poultry. The Importance OF this
crop as a honey producing plant
was also considered.
Finely ground, kiln-dried alfalfa
hay, called alfalfa meal, has given
satisfactory results as feeding
stuff. The commercial article is
made from selected alfalfa and mix
ed with sugar-bcct molasses in the
proportion of IS per cent alfalfa
and IS per cent molasses.
Horses and mules, it is stated,
thrive on alfalfa pasture. While
alfalfa is too rich food for mature
horses unless used in combination
with some other roughness, it is
an excellent feed for young horses,
as it seems to contain just the ele-
mcnts necessary to develop bone,
muscle and consequent size. eau
lion should be used, however, in
feeding alfalfa to horses, particular
~ if they have not been accustomed
to il. Like other concentrated
feeds, it seems to stimulate ali the
physical processes to such an ex-
tent that various disorders of the
digestive system may appear. This
is particularly noticeable in the
urinary and pcrspiratory glands.
When alfalfa is fed to horses in
considerable quantity the grain ra-
ton must be proportionatcly rcduc-
ed and an abundance of other rough
ness furnished. When horses have
attained a mature age and it is de-
sirabie to change from other hay to
alfalfa, this change must be very
gradual, and the alfalfa selected for
this purpose should be more advan-
ced in growth at the time of cut
ting than that which is to be fed tc
cattle or sheep. AS general state
ment, very ripe alfalfa hay is the
best to use for work horses anc
driving horses, while that prepared
in the ususl-.hat is, cut when tn,
field Is about onc-tenth in bloom
is better for the colts. In am
event, horses that are fed alfalfa hay
must be given abundant exercise.
For dairy and beef cattle and TO
sheep alfalfa has given very good re
suits. AS regards the use of alfalfa
hay for pigs, il is considered bette
to cut IL early so that larger pro
portion of leaves may be saved an,
consequently larger proportion o
protein conserved. A late cutting
after the leaves have fallen some
what and the stem hardened, is bet
ter for horses, but for pigs, espec
tally growing pigs, the crop shout
est number of leaves. Expreienc
teaches also that the third or fourt
crop is better for pigs, because it
softer and more palatable. 1t
always wise to provide some sort {
a trough or rack with floor in
for feeding alfalfa to hogs.
Alfalfa in it's green state, c
when used as hay or ensilage, is
first-class poultry food. Poultr
viii pasture on it during the sum
mcr and thrive. 1t is best for poul
try to use the last cutting of alfalfa
rs il is softer in texture, has larg
er proportion of leaves, less wood
matter, and is more succulent tina
any other cutting. While poultr
of all classes will eat alfalfa hay
or at least the leaves from it, an
thrive, it is undoubtedly a bette
practice to chop it or grind it an
mix it with grain ration. A goo
practice is to steep the alfalfa ha
in hot water and let it stand fc
several hours before feeding.