FEEDS FOR THE DAIRY COW 379 



milk on the bran-alfalfa ration, but the increase was dearly purchased 

 under New Mexico conditions where concentrates are very high in price 

 compared with alfalfa hay. 



In some sections of the West, owing to the cheapness of alfalfa hay, 

 dairy cows are given this feed alone, possibly with green alfalfa soilage 

 or pasture in addition during the summer. Woll of the California 

 Station 74 found in trials in which rolled barley was added to an exclusive 

 alfalfa ration that the immediate increase in production resulting from 

 grain feeding was not sufficient, with feeds at prevailing prices, to pay 

 for the added expense. However, considering the influence on the pro- 

 duction during the balance of the lactation period and the effect on the" 

 condition of the cows, he believes that the feeding of some grain is 

 advisable, especially in the case of high producing animals or heifers 

 in milk. Balancing the alfalfa hay by the use of corn or milo silage 

 also increased the production and was more economical than feeding 

 grain, except for high producing animals, which should have some con- 

 centrates to keep up a large production. 



613. Alfalfa meal. It has been previously pointed out that grinding 

 alfalfa hay to a meal will not transform a hay into a concentrate, and 

 that we would hardly expect alfalfa meal to have as high a value as 

 wheat bran, since it contains 3 times as much fiber and but about 85 

 per ct. as much digestible crude protein. (339, 344) In trials by Hills 

 at the Vermont Station, 75 by Mairs at the Pennsylvania Station, 76 and 

 by Lindsey at the Massachusetts Station, 77 when alfalfa meal was sub- 

 stituted for the same weight of wheat bran, the milk yield was reduced 

 3 to 6 per ct. More recently Snyder has reported chopped alfalfa as 

 being equal to wheat bran in trials at the North Platte, Nebraska Sub- 

 Station, 78 perhaps due to a superior quality of chopped alfalfa hay being 

 used. Taking the results as a whole, we may conclude that in view of 

 the palatability of alfalfa hay to dairy cows and its thoro mastication 

 during rumination, the use of alfalfa meal is ordinarily not economical 

 when good alfalfa hay is available. 



614. Clover hay. Hay from the clovers, cut while yet in bloom, is one 

 of the best roughages for dairy cows. By the use of clover hay red, 

 alsike, or crimson the dairyman may reduce the amount of concen- 

 trates needed to supply a well-balanced ration in the same manner as 

 has been shown in the case of alfalfa hay. (347, 350, 353) The relative 

 value of red clover and alfalfa hay is a question which is often dis- 

 cussed. Alfalfa hay is considerably richer in digestible protein than 

 red clover hay. On the other hand, it does not furnish quite as much 

 net energy as clover, according to Armsby. (171) We might suppose, 

 therefore, that alfalfa would be superior to clover when fed in a ration 

 otherwise low in protein, but that it might show no superiority over 



74 Cal. Buls. 256, 282. "Mass. Rpt 1909, Part II, pp. 158-166. 



76 Vt. Rpt. 1906. 78 Nebr. Bui. 164. 



T6 Penn. Bui. 80. 



