1909.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 31. 19 



It will be seen that bran furnishes noticeably more digestible 

 protein, extract matter and fat than alfalfa; the latter has a 

 much larger' percentage of digestible fiber. Fiber is the least 

 desirable food nutrient to purchase, as it requires noticeably 

 more energy for its digestion than any of the other groups of 

 nutrients. Bran contains over 100 pounds more total di- 

 gestible nutrients to the ton, and, other things being equal, 

 should be regarded as a more economical food for milk pro- 

 duction. 



Alfalfa Meal for Milk Production. 



The station conducted an experiment with 6 milch cows, 

 and, from the results secured, concluded that pound for pound 

 wheat bran proved slightly superior to the alfalfa meal. Both 

 feeds act as slight laxatives and are well suited to dilute or dis- 

 tribute the heavy concentrates. 



The Pennsylvania station made a similar experiment, and 

 stated: (a) "The results do not warrant the recommendation 

 of alfalfa meal as a substitute for wheat bran as a feed for 

 dairy cows at present market prices (bran, $20, alfalfa meal, 

 $23, per ton) ; " (h) '' the alfalfa meal was less palatable, and 

 resulted in a decreased milk production in every case." 



The writer can see no advantage in replacing bran by alfalfa 

 meal, for the reason that the quality of the latter, as measured 

 by the grade of the hay employed, is likely to vary considerably. 

 Late cut alfalfa has a low digestibility, and will prove decidedly 

 inferior to a good quality of bran. 



AlfalFxV as a Forage Ceop. 



For a number of years this department has had under obser- 

 vation a small lot of alfalfa (M? acre), growing upon a avoII- 

 drained, rather light loam. It has yielded from 3/4 to 4/4 

 tons of dry hay to the acre (15 per cent, water basis). 



During the season of 1907 it was cut for the last time about 

 the middle of September. It did not grow as freely as usmil 

 thereafter, and went into the winter without as much of a 

 growth as usual with which to protect it. The early winter 

 being devoid of snow, the alfalfa was exposed most of the time 

 until well into January. A careful study of the field in the 



