Arizona Agricultural Experiment Station 



581 



SUDAN GRASS HAY VERSUS ALFALFA HAY FOR 

 DAIRY COWS 



An experiment has been conducted to determine the value 

 of Sudan grass hay in the ration of dairy cows. In addition 

 to hay, silage and grain were fed in like manner to all the cows 

 on test. The rations were computed so that each cow received 

 at least the minimum amount of digestible nutrients required 

 Dy the Wolft'-Lehman feeding standard. 



The ration containing alfalfa hay produced about eleven 

 percent more butterfat than the ration containing Sudan grass 

 hay. After all factors are taken into consideration, this test 

 would indicate that Sudan grass hay is worth less than three- 

 fourths the price of alfalfa hay as a feed for dairy cows. Full 

 data regarding this test will be published in a Timely Hint. 



GREEN ALFALFA VERSUS ALFALFA HAY FOR DAIRY 



COWS 



In Arizona, soiling of alfalfa is practiced to a considerable 

 extent where pasturing is not possible. Many believe that cows 

 will not do as well on dry hay as on green feed, and that if 

 cows cannot be pastured, the forage should be cut and fed 

 green. While soiling is considered to be too expensive as a 

 general practice, the soiling of alfalfa may have some merit 

 under Arizona conditions, if labor is not too expensive. A 

 test has been started to secure data on the relative feeding 



