158 



EXPERIMENT STATION. 



[Jan. 



ALFALFA MEAL v. WHEAT BRAN FOR MILK 

 PRODUCTION. 



OcTOBEK TO Decembek, 1906. 



BY J. B. LINDSEY. 



The merits of alfalfa haj, when early cut and well cured, are 

 fully recognized by feeders of farm stock. Considerable alfalfa 

 hay is ground and offered as a food for poultry and as a substi- 

 tute for wheat bran. The station has made a comparative study 

 of the merits of ground alfalfa and bran for milk production, 

 and briefly presents the results secured. 



Composition of Alfalfa [Per Cent.). 



Alfalfa Meal 



used ill 

 Experiment. 



Alfalfa Hay 



for 

 Comparison. 



Wheat Bran 



used in 

 Experiment. 



Average 



for Wheat 



Bran. 



Water, . 

 Protein, 

 Fat, 



Fiber, . 

 Extract matter. 

 Ash, . 



Totals, . 



10.06 

 13.01 



1.28 

 32.32 

 35.39 



7.94 



13.24 

 3.36 

 31.07 

 34.13 



8.64 



11.61 

 15.60 



4.28 



9.40 



52.98 



6.13 



100.00 



100.00 



100.00 



10.00 

 16.30 



4.40 

 10.00 

 53.10 



6.20 



100.00 



The alfalfa meal was put out by the Ralston Purina Com- 

 pany, which stated that it was made from a good quality of 

 alfalfa hay. Alfalfa hay, the comj^osition of which is given in 

 the second column for comparison, was grown at the New Jersey 

 exjieriment station and was pronounced a representative sample. 



Alfalfa differs chemically from l)ran in containing rather less 

 protein, decidedly less extract matter and correspondingly more 

 fiber. Both have a high ash percentage, which renders them 

 well suited as foods for young stock. 



