The Delta independent., 1915-01-01
The Milling of Alfalfa.

falfa increasing more and more
throughout the different states. The
people are becoming more familiar
with how to grow this valuable stock
food product and they are also becom-
ing better acquainted with its merit
as food for every kind Of animal as
we'll as poultry. Years ago it was
considered just a hay with no epecial
emphasis with regard to food value.
There was limited market for alfalfa
hay and alfalfa meal was unknown,
but years of observation and expert
menting have taught the people that
alfalfa like a hidden treasure need
only to be discovered, understood and
properly applied. When properly
cured, harvested and ground into meal
it is rival in feeding value of bran
and cottonseed meal and contains
properties especially adapted to the
requirements of animal organism
which cannot be substituted.
1t has not been many years since
the alfalfa milling industry was in
ITOuuCtu. IL ItlulItu
money, energy and patience to con-
vince the people of the economy and
the value of alfalfa meal as food
product Freight rates had to be ad-
iusted a demand created and the peo-
pie educated to know the value of the
great legume. However the alfalfa
miller. like the patient plodder knew
he had a good thing and all he had to
do was to push it along and crown
his efforts with success. After
time the milling of alfalfa was re-
duced to a commercial basis, some of
the obstacles were removed. and the
demand began to increase. Now al
falfa mills can be found in almost
every part OF the country where much
alfalfa is grown, The consequences
are that today a large per cent Of the
alfalfa that was formerly baled and
shipped onto the open market, often
bringing little or nothing but disap-
pointment to the grower is now
ground into meal and then mixed into
feeds OF various kinds. leaving only
a limited amount of hay in the vi
cinity OF the mills to be baled. which
commands better price than II the
market were glutted with baled hay.
Every sweet has it's bitter" however
and while the alfalfa miller was striv-
ing ahead. Introducing TO the world
this valuable food commodity in new
form and creating a better demand.
he made II possible for the farmer TO
obtain more for his baied hay. There
fore the miller had to meet the price
TO obtain his hay supply for his mill
or see the best of the hay baled and
shipped. This of course also forced
the price of alfalfa meal to advance
materially.
Some alfalfa millers knowing the
real value OF alfalfa meal as com
ponent part OF a well balanced mixed
feed have installed in connection with
their alaflfa meal mills. mixing ma
chinery and are now manufacturing,
for their own use as we'll as for mar
ket. balanced molasses mixed feeds
with alfalfa meal as the base. The
largest concern of this kind Is the
Auckland Agricultural company OF
olney Springs in otero county. To-
Gated in the Arkansas valley forty
miles east of Pueblo. The proprie-
tor. William Auckland. besides his
feeding interests. has made the grow
ing of alfalfa special study and
now has in connection with his al
falfa meal mill and mixing plant
about one thousand acres In alfalfa.
He knows the value of alfalfa as n
feed and each year fattens upon the
alfalfa molasses mixture of his own
manufacture several thousand head
OF sheep as well as hogs. cattle and
horses and is making Il pay right Mt
home Last season he invariably
topped the market with his lambs.
on the same day topping the market
at Kansas City, st. Joseph. and st.
Louis with a bunch of lambs which
when put on feed were classed as the
tail-end of large bunch of range
lambs after the best had been picked
and sold.
Any surplus of meal or feed which