SIXTH ANNDAL YEAR BOOK — PART VIII. 



795 



often that home-grown alfalfa seed is adulterated. It sometimes occurs, 

 however, that unadulterated seed is of a poor quality, as shown by its 

 brown color as contrasted with the light olive-green of good seed. Sucn 

 seed should be discarded, as its germination is low. 



FEEDING VALUE OP ALFALFA. 



It is well known that alfalfa is a highly nutritious and palatable 

 fodder for all classes of farm animals. All Kinds of stock eat it greed- 

 ily, either in the form of green alfalfa or as hay. Below are given tables 

 showing percentage composition, digestibility, and the digestible nutri- 

 ents in 100 pounds of green alfalfa and alfalfa hay, is each case compared 

 with red clover. 



Average percentage composition of alfalfa. 



Average digestibility of alfalfa and red clover, percentage. 

 (Experiments with ruminants.) 



Condition of Forage. 



Fresh alfalfa 

 Fresh clover 

 Alfalfa hay . . 

 Clovei hay . 



Number 

 of Analy- 

 ses. 



Per cent. 



2 



2 



28 



46 



Protein. 



Per cent, 

 81 

 97 

 73 

 55 



Crude 

 Fiber. 



Per cent. 

 45 

 53 

 43 

 49 



Nitrog-en 



Free 

 Extract. 



Per cent. 

 76 



78 

 66 

 69 



Ether 

 Extract 



(Fat) 



Per cent. 

 52 

 65 

 54 

 53 



Digestible nutrients in lOo pounds . 



Condition of Forage. 



Fresh alfalfa 

 Fresh clover 

 Alfalfa hay . 

 Clover hay... 



Dry matter 



in 100 



Pounds 



Per cent. 

 28.2 

 29.2 

 91.6 



84.7 



Digestible Nutrients in 100 

 Pounds. 



Protein. 



Carbohy- 

 drates. 



Per cent. Per cent. 



Ether 

 Extract. 



3.9 

 2.9 

 10.44 



6.8 



12.7 

 14.8 

 39.6 

 35.8 



Per cent. 

 0.5 

 0.7 

 1.2 

 1.7 



The leaves of alfalfa are richer than the stems in protein, carbohy- 

 drates, and fat, but are poorer in crude fiber. The Colorado station 

 has shown that protein in the two cases is 13.12 and 8.61 while the 

 digestible protein is 9.84 and 6.46 parts in 100 parts of dry matter. It 

 is therefore quite essential that alfalfa hay should be put up with as 

 little loss of leaves as possible. 



