300 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



While many of the reports included in the above table are based upon 

 quite limited experience, the data, as a whole, indicates strongly the 

 value of alfalfa as a pasture crop. Practically all of the reports are 

 favorable so far as the effect upon the stock is concerned, only three 

 farmers reporting trouble of bloating of cattle or sheep. Sixteen in- 

 dicate injury to the stand of alfalfa. 



In other states much trouble has been experienced with bloating of 

 cattle and sheep when pastured on alfalfa. The exact conditions which 

 cause this trouble have not been well determined, but the danger appears 



Fig. VIII. A profitable field of alfalfa in Kalamazoo County. 



to be the greatest when the growth is rankest, when no other feed is given 

 to stock, when the stock are turned in when hungry and are allowed to 

 eat all they want when the alfalfa is wet with dew or rain. It is well 

 established that imder certain conditions alfalfa is a very dangerous pas- 

 ture crop for cattle and sheep and farmers are cautioned to exercise much 

 care in turning these classes of stock into a good growth of alfalfa. 

 Little faith should be placed in most of the plans suggested for avoid- 

 ing this trouble, but the following seem fairly reliable: Sow some grass, 

 preferably orchard grass, with the alfalfa, so that not more than one- 

 half of the herbage will bo alfalfa. The stock prefer a variety and will 

 eat the grass with the alfalfa, which will largely, if not entirely do away 

 with the bloating. If late in the season the herbage liecomes mostly 

 alfalfa, it is advisable to remove the cattle and sheep from the field. 



