LEGUMINOUS PLANTS FOR FORAGE 227 



rather late is preferable to that cut earlier, since it is less laxative, or 

 4 'washy." 



Alfalfa hay is richer than red clover hay in crude protein but is a 

 little lower in fat. It furnishes slightly more total digestible nutrients 

 than clover hay, but in respiration trials with cattle has yielded less net 

 energy per 100 Ibs., perhaps due to its more laxative effect. Appendix 

 Tables I, II, and III show that early-cut alfalfa hay is higher in crude 

 protein and lower in fiber and more digestible than that from more 

 mature plants. In making alfalfa hay it is especially important to guard 

 against the loss of the leaves, which are the most valuable portion of the 

 crop. (332) Widtsoe at the Utah Station 3 shows that while the leaves 

 and flowers of alfalfa cut in early bloom make up only about 43 per ct. 

 of the hay, they contain over two-thirds of all the crude protein and 

 nearly three-fourths of all the fat in the crop. 



The relative value of the different cuttings of hay will depend on the 

 climatic conditions. The second and later cuttings, which are usually 

 finer-stemmed and more leafy than the first cutting, are better, except 

 for horses. In a Utah trial* there was little difference in the value of the 

 various cuttings. (610) In certain sections of the West, wild foxtail, or 

 squirrel tail grass, Hordeum jubatum, injures the quality of the first 

 cutting on account of its objectionable beards. As this grass makes 

 palatable hay when cut early, the crop may be harvested then or may 

 be ensiled, which will soften the beards. 



339. Feeding alfalfa hay. Due to its richness both in protein and 

 mineral matter, especially lime, and also because of its palatability to 

 all classes of stock and its beneficial laxative effect, alfalfa hay has no 

 superior in the list of roughages. It is highly esteemed for feeding 

 dairy cows, which need an abundance of protein and lime for milk 

 production, and commonly commands a considerably higher price than 

 clover hay. 



The relative feeding value of alfalfa hay and wheat bran is a question 

 which has received much attention and is often discussed by dairymen. 

 A comparison of the digestible nutrients and net-energy value of these 

 feeds will show that the hay contains only about 85 per ct. as much 

 digestible crude protein as bran, and about 3 times as much fiber. (218) 

 It is due to this that alfalfa hay furnishes only about 65 per ct. as much 

 net energy as bran. As shown later (344, 613), the results of feeding 

 trials in which alfalfa meal (finely ground hay) has been compared with 

 wheat bran for dairy cows vary, probably due to differences in the 

 quality of hay used. Judging from the composition of average quality 

 alfalfa hay and wheat bran, we should not expect such hay to equal 

 wheat bran in feeding value. Where good quality alfalfa hay is fed to 

 dairy cows, considerably less grain is required than where timothy hay is 

 fed. 5 However, owing to the fact that even choice alfalfa hay is a 

 roughage instead of a concentrate, when alfalfa hay is substituted for 



3 Utah Bui. 48. 'Utah Bui. 126. B IU. Bui. 146; N. J. Bui. 190. 



