Alfalfa in Kansas. 



429 



FIG. 361. A rack for feeding alfalfa hay to horses. 

 [Courtesy .Nebraska Experiment Station.] 



TABLE No. 49. Available nutrients per 100 pounds of some of the common horse feeds. 



We note from the table that there are 11 pounds of available usable 

 protein in 100 pounds of alfalfa hay, and only 7.9 pounds of available 

 protein in 100 pounds of shelled corn. In other words, there is approxi- 

 mately 35 per cent more available protein in one pound of alfalfa hay 

 than there is in one pound of shelled corn. These facts and figures im- 

 press upon us the necessity of looking upon alfalfa hay as a concentrate 

 rather than a roughage. A man would be considered very foolish were he 

 feeding a bushel of shelled corn a day to a 1200-pound horse, and yet 

 many are doing a more foolish thing when they feed their horses all the 

 alfalfa hay they will eat. Such a practice is not only wasteful but it is 

 dangerous, for practically all of the protein which is not utilized by the 

 body must be eliminated through the kidneys. This results in hyper- 

 stimulation or even inflammation of these organs, and excessive urination. 



