ALFALFA BAT 229 



penetrates alfalfa cocks very readily, which injures 

 the feeding value and causes mechanical losses. In 

 good weather, alfalfa that is cut in the morning 

 may be raked in the afternoon of the same day. It 

 should not be left long enough to become dry and 

 brittle, or many of the leaves will shatter in raking, 

 much reducing the value of the hay. 



In experiments at the New Jersey Experiment 

 Station, it was shown that alfalfa hay may be 

 substituted for the protein feeds generally used, 

 without interfering with the health of the ani- 

 mals, and at considerable saving in the cost of 

 the ration, although the yield of milk was not 

 quite so high. In other experiments, when cow- 

 pea silage and alfalfa hay were used as the 

 source of roughage as well as for the protein, 

 and corn meal used to supply the carbohydrates, 

 the yield of milk was greater and the cost per 

 quart much lower than from the regular barn 

 ration, in which the source of protein was such 

 feed products as dried brewers' grains and wheat 

 bran. In other words, it has been demonstrated 

 that it is quite possible, with the judicious use 

 of such leguminous crops as alfalfa and cowpeas, 

 to produce all the needed nutrients on the farm, 

 thus saving expensive feed bills and at the same 

 time enriching the soil in nitrogen. It is impor- 

 tant that dairy farmers should grow, if possible, 

 a few acres of alfalfa to supply part of the green 



