Judith Gap journal. [volume] (Judith Gap, Mont.) 1908-19??, 1909-08-13
ALFALFA A GREAT FEED
FOR ALL LIVESTOCK
Especially Valuable For Young Animals
livery Nutricious.

There has been great deal written
and told of the results of feeding al
falfa, both with grain and without,
says l. ID. O'Donnel in Eastern Slope.
In some of the eastern states, they
are running special trains with lectur-
ers telling of the wonderful things
that alfalfa will do, and how to grow
and feed it. 1t has also been tested
in almost all the western experiment
stations in most every way in connec
ton with grain and without, and in
comparison with other forage crops
and the results have in every case
known to the writer been very much
in favor of alfalfa as a stock feed both
for sheep and cattle and hogs.
1t has been found that in feeding
cattle where alfalfa alone is fed, that
a three or four year old steer will put
on from pound to Il pound and half
a day for period of $50 days.
Matured steers will do better on al
falfa alone than young steers, but the
younger steers will make better gains
where grain ration is added, and more
profit for the money invested than the
older steers.
From the reports of the Montana
station the same has been found true
in sheep feeding; that lambs on alfal-
ia and grain will give greater gains
for amount invested than older sheep.
Matured sheep will put on splendid
gain with alfalfa alone, while it will
require some grain to make good gain
with lambs.
1t has also been found from actual
tests that stock will put on more
gains with alfalfa alone as rOughage
than where other forage crops are fed
with it
One Of the greatest results worked
out by the various tests, is that stock
will do fully as well, and put OH
about as much gain with moderate
feed of grain. 1t has been shown
that One-half pound of wheat for 100
days put on as much gain as where
one pound and one pound and half
was fed, with all the alfalfa stock
could eat. This applies to lambs and
yearlings.
\ band of small yearlings last win
ter made a gain of thirteen pounds
per head in seventy days OH alfalfa
straight. And bunch Of yearlings,
with few two year olds, made Il gain
of over nineteen pounds in seventy
five days. This is almost equal to
grain feds.
Lambs or yearlings are safe to make
gains of twenty-five pounds in 100
days, with All average grain ration of
one-half pound per day. In feeding,
a good quality of we'll cured hay is
important, cured hay, not dried hay,
asagreat many have. Feeding racks,
and feeding regularly is essential. No
stock will do well if not handled right.
Plenty of water in the feed lots, and
salt before them at all times.
Alfalfa is a great bone and muscle
builder, and for that reason is so good
for young and growing stock.
To the sheepmen great point in
its favor is that it will grow one and
two crops where most other forage
crops will dry and burn up where they
have no water for irrigation.
The Utah station has worked out
the results from beef making test,
as to the different stages to cut alfal-
ia. They found that early cut alfalfa
was worth from ten to thirty per cent
more than late or medium cut alfalfa
summed up as follows: You must
have good, well cured hay; stock
should be brought to the feed lots in
good shape, it's Il wrong idea that as
long as stock is going to the feed lots,
that they can be starved for Il month
before coming in, and then expect
good results.
Good feed lots, plenty Of water,
and shelter from winds: feed regular
ly and disturb as little as possible;
keep dogs away and do not drive
among sheep with wagon.
Any Montana grains in connection
with alfalfa should make good gains
with sheep. Beet pulp, of which