162 FARM ANIMALS 



and southern states. Alfalfa may be fed in the 

 form of hay, as a soiling crop, or may be easily 

 ensiled in the field by stacking and packing down 

 tightly in a fresh condition. In Kansas, it was 

 found that cows would eat as much as forty-five 

 pounds of alfalfa hay per day, but that better 

 results were obtained when the amount was reduced 

 to fifteen or thirty pounds with a suitable grain 

 ration in addition. With alfalfa, cows require 

 less grain than with cereal hays, but on account 

 of the great effectiveness of corn when properly 

 balanced, a combination of alfalfa and corn meal 

 gives one of the most profitable milk-producing 

 feeds which can be procured at the same expense. 

 In fact, there is hardly any combination which 

 can equal alfalfa and corn, either for milk pro- 

 duction or for making meat. When compared 

 with silage, alfalfa is superior in milk production 

 and is far more effective than any form of wild, 

 cereal or meadow hay. Careful tests of alfalfa 

 in New Jersey show that on an average about 

 $67 worth of milk can be produced from the 

 alfalfa from one acre of ground. Under favorable 

 conditions, a considerably higher yield than this 

 was obtained. In Tennessee it has been found 

 that alfalfa hay can be safely and economically 

 substituted for a considerable proportion of the 

 grain in the ration for dairy cows. When used 

 for this purpose it is slightly less effective than 

 cowpea hay and either of these kinds of hay may 

 be used to replace a considerable part of the bran 

 or other grain fed in the cow ration, allowing one 

 and a half pounds of alfalfa hay for each pound 

 of wheat bran. Estimating the value of alfalfa hay 

 at $10 per ton, and wheat bran at $20 a ton, it 

 gives a cost of twenty cents less for every one 



