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Kansas State Board of Agriculture. 



the feeds particularly rich in protein. The comparatively large quantity 

 of protein which alfalfa contains is its chief characteristic. 



Crude fiber includes those compounds which make up the "framework" 

 of the plant. These compounds are not worthless for feed, but they are 

 tough, and to masticate and digest them requires a great amount of 

 energy. The crude-fiber content of concentrates is low as compared with 

 feeds classed as roughage. The crude-fiber content of alfalfa increases 

 as the plant approaches maturity. 



The ether extract includes the fats and oils, but not all of the ether 

 extract is fat or oil. The ether extract of concentrates is nearly all fat or 

 oil, while only a small portion of the ether extract of roughage is fat or 

 oil. The ether extract of roughage is of very little importance from the 

 feeder's standpoint. 



All compounds not contained in the above constituents are included un- 

 der the term "nitrogen-free extract." In concentrates the nitrogen-free 

 extract is made up mostly of starch. In roughage the nitrogen-free ex- 

 tract contains large amounts of pentosans and other compounds that have 

 a higher feeding value than crude fiber, but lower than starch. There are 

 also small amounts of other compounds present, most of which should be 

 considered as having about the same value as starch. Sugar is one of 

 these. 



In considering the percentage of constituents in any feed it is necessary 

 to take into account the amount of water which the feed contains. Corn 

 silage which contains 74 per cent of water can not be compared, pound 

 for pound, in feeding value with corn silage which contains 68 per cent 

 water. Suppose that alfalfa cut in one-tenth bloom were analyzed when 

 green, when field cured, and when thoroughly cured in the barn. The 

 green material would contain about 72 per cent of moisture, the field cured 

 ready to stack about 26 per cent, and the thoroughly cured about 8 per 

 cent. Having determined the constituents under any known moisture 

 condition, it is a matter of calculation to get the percentage composition 

 under any other known moisture condition. In comparing the composition 

 of feeds it is customary to calculate either to a uniform moisture basis or 

 to the basis of no moisture. The variations in the percentage of con- 

 stituents of alfalfa under different moisture conditions are shown by the 

 following figures: 



TABLE'NO. 33. Percentage of constituents of alfalfa under different moisture conditions. 



