380 FEEDS AND FEEDING 



clover when an abundance of protein is furnished by the other feeds in 

 the ration. 



Alfalfa hay was compared with red clover hay for dairy cows in 4 

 trials by Hayden at the Ohio Station. 79 In these trials, on both the 

 alfalfa and the clover rations the cows were allowed to consume as 

 much feed as they would eat, instead of the amounts being kept the 

 same for both lots. "When fed alfalfa hay, the cows consumed 8 per ct. 

 more concentrates (corn and wheat bran), 9 per ct. more corn silage, 

 11 per ct. more corn stover, and 15 per ct. more hay than when fed 

 clover hay. The alfalfa hay therefore seemed to be a better appetizer 

 than clover. The cows also yielded 9.3 per ct. more milk and 7.5 per ct. 

 more butter fat on alfalfa than on clover, due either to the larger amount 

 of feed eaten or to the fact that the alfalfa ration was better balanced, 

 supplying more protein. On alfalfa the cows also maintained their 

 weights slightly better. 



In metabolism trials by Hart and Humphrey at the Wisconsin Sta- 

 tion, 80 high producing dairy cows lost nitrogen steadily from their 

 bodies and decreased in milk yield markedly on a ration of red clover 

 hay, corn silage, and corn, oats, or wheat, or a mixture of the three 

 grains. This was due to the fact that this ration was too low in pro- 

 tein to meet the demands for milk production. On the other hand, when 

 alfalfa hay was fed in place of clover hay, the cows remained in nitrogen 

 balance, due to the fact that the alfalfa hay was richer in protein. 



615. Crimson clover hay; sweet clover hay. The value of crimson 

 clover hay as a substitute for purchased protein-rich feeds is shown in 

 a trial by Lane at the New Jersey Station 81 in which a ration of 16.4 Ibs. 

 crimson clover hay and 30 Ibs. corn silage was compared with a ration 

 of 11 Ibs. of purchased concentrates! (wheat bran and dried brewers' 

 grains), 5 Ibs. mixed hay, and 30 Ibs. corn silage. The yield of milk 

 was 3.7 Ibs. and of butter fat 0.15 Ib. less per head daily on the crimson 

 clover hay ration than on that containing the liberal allowance of pur- 

 chased concentrates. However, the milk was produced more cheaply on 

 the home-grown ration. (353) 



Sweet clover hay, when well cured and not too coarse and stemmy, is 

 satisfactory for dairy cows. It is fully as high in digestible protein as 

 is alfalfa hay. (352) 



616. Cowpea hay. In the South the cowpea vine, thriving on all types 

 of soil, is of great importance to the dairy industry, as it furnishes 

 palatable hay, which is even richer than alfalfa in protein. (357) For 

 milk production cowpea hay is far superior to such protein-poor rough- 

 ages as cottonseed hulls, corn fodder, crab grass hay, or Johnson-grass 

 hay. In a trial by Wing at the Georgia Station 82 cows fed cowpea hay 



79 Ohio Bui. 327. 



80 Jour. Biol. Chem., 38, 1919, pp. 515-27; 44, 1920, pp. 189-201; information to 

 the authors. 



N. J. Bui. 161. 82 Ga. Bui. 49. 



