LEGUMES FOR FORAGE 181 



Average returns per acre from alfalfa and other crops 



Digestible Total 



Yield crude digestible Net 



per acre protein nutrients. energy 



Lbs. Lbs. Lbs. Therms 



Alfalfa hay 5,040 534 2,601 1,734 



Clover hay 2,580 196 1,313 890 



Timothy hay 2,440 73 1,183 819 



Com (ears and stover) . 3,440 14G 2,256 1,762 



This average for the United States shows that alfalfa produced by 

 far the largest yield per acre, with over 2.7 times as much digestible 

 crude protein as clover and nearly four times as much as corn. It 

 excelled even corn, the king of forage crops, in yield of total digestible 

 nutrients, tho, due to the high net energy value of the corn grain, the 

 corn crop surpassed alfalfa in yield of net energy. 



Much larger yields of alfalfa than the average shown in the table 

 are easily secured under favorable conditions, even in the eastern 

 states. When amply watered by irrigation, alfalfa furnishes 2 to 5 

 cuttings a season, yielding as high as 5 tons of nutritious hay per acre. 

 In the hot irrigated districts of the Southwest 9 or even more cuttings 

 have been secured in a season. AVhen high temperature is combined 

 with a humid climate, alfalfa generally fails unless the soil is unusually 

 favorable. AVhere both soil and climate are suitable, this long-time 

 perennial returns good crops for many j-ears without reseeding. 



Alfalfa for hay.— Tho alfalfa hay is richer in protein than red 

 clover hay, it contains slightly less carbohydrates and is lower in fat. 

 Alfalfa hay is thus somewhat more valuable than clover hay in balanc- 

 ing rations low in protein, but when fed with concentrates containing 

 ample protein is not superior to clover. The chief superiority over 

 clover lies not in a higher feeding value per ton but in the fact that 

 where alfalfa thrives it j'ields more tons of hay per acre. 



Alfalfa should be cut for hay as soon as new shoots are well started 

 at the crown of the plant. Cutting later than this reduces the yield of 

 the next crop, for many of the longer shoots will be clipped by the 

 mower. By harvesting the crop at this early stage the maximum 

 yield for the whole season is obtained, and the hay is more leafy and 

 palatable. It also contains more protein and is more digestible than 

 if cut later, when it contains more fiber. Early-cut hay is preferable 

 for all farm animals except the horse, for which late-cut is better 

 since, tho less nutritious, it is less washy. In certain sections of the 

 West the first cutting often contains much wild foxtail, or squirrel- 

 tail grass, which has coarse beards that are in.jurious to stock if the 

 hay is cut at the usual stage. In such eases the alfalfa may be cut 

 earlier, when the young foxtail will make good hay, or the crop may 

 be ensiled, which will soften the beards. 



