FEEDING VALUE OF ALFALFA. Ill 



One notes that of the several coarse fodders, alfalfa furnishes by far 

 the most digestible protein. Thus, timothy hay yields only 60 pounds, 

 clover and rowen 149 and 158 pounds, and alfalfa substantially 200 

 pounds in a ton. Alfalfa furnishes the largest amount of protein of any 

 of the more conunon and useful coarse fodders. In case, however, of the 

 total digestible nutrients, one notes but little difference between the 

 timothy, clover and alfalfa. Rowen yields 8 per cent, more, while such 

 a concentrate as gluten feed contains 64 per cent, more, than alfalfa. 

 Total digestible matter, however, is not the most satisfactory unit of 

 measure of the energy value of feedstuffs. 



The unit known as net energy, obtained by deducting from the total 

 energy in the feed the energy losses in feces, urine and heat radiated, is 

 the best known method of comparison. On this basis Armsby's method 

 of calculation, as indicated in the last column of the table, shows red clover 

 to have 13 per cent, more net energy value than aKalfa, timothy hay 26 

 per cent., rowen 20 per cent., and gluten feed 160 per cent. While experi- 

 ments conducted with the aid of the respiration calorimeter demonstrate 

 these differences, it may be difficult to show such noticeable variations 

 with the aid of ordinary feeding experiments. 



FEEDING EXPERIMENTS WITH ALFALFA. 



Experiments I, II and III. 



Alfalfa, Beet Pulp and Corn Meal v. Hay, Beet Pulp and Corn Gluten 

 Products for Milk Production. 



The three experiments immediately following were made by the re- 

 versal method with two groups of six and one group of eight cows. 



The objects of the several experiments were : — 



1. To compare the effect of the dry matter and the protein in the two 

 rations on the yield of milk and milk ingredients, and on the gain or loss 

 in weight. 



2. To see if the protein derived largely from alfalfa was as satisfactory 

 for milk production as that secured largely from corn by-products. 



3. To note if the diuretic effect of the alfalfa caused any noticeable 

 milk shrinkage.^ 



4. To observe the possible adverse effect on milk production of the 

 increased metabolism, caused by the alfalfa. 



The rations were designated as the alfalfa and hay rations. The former 

 consisted of alfalfa as the total roughage, plus beet pulp and corn meal; 

 the latter, of hay as the roughage, plus beet pulp, gluten feed and gluten 

 meal. The alfalfa ration naturally derived its protein largely from al- 

 falfa, while in the hay ration a large part of the protein came from the 

 gluten products. The digestible nutrients in each ration should be about 

 the same. 



1 Research Bulletin No. 33, Wisconsin Experiment Station. 



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