ALFALFA AND THE DAIRY 1 49 



may be assigned to the fact that the cattle were unable to 

 consume a sufficient quantity of the mixture to produce 

 the same results as the alfalfa alone. These dairymen 

 find they can secure a larger yield by feeding a little 

 grain ; but the increased yield does not pay for the grain, 

 which is high priced in this locality." 



AN ESSENTIAL IN MIL.K PRODUCTION 



Oscar Erf, professor of dairying at the Kansas experi- 

 ment station, writing for this volume, says: "Alfalfa is 

 quite indispensable in successful dairy operations, being 

 one of the cheapest sources of protein, that most essential 

 compound in feeds for milk production. The Kansas sta- 

 tion found that for milk lyl pounds of well-leaved al- 

 falfa hay, containing a high per cent of protein, is equal in 

 feeding value to a pound of bran. In case the alfalfa is 

 of a stemmy nature it requires i^ pounds to equal the 

 feeding value of a pound of bran. Alfalfa hay is worth 

 from $4 to $7 per ton on the farm, while bran costs from 

 $14 to $20 per ton, hence it is far more economical to 

 feed the alfalfa hay. 



"Like other hays alfalfa varies in composition accord- 

 ing to the time of cutting, the soil on which it grows, and 

 its per cent of leaves. It has been found that three-fourths 

 of a pound of alfalfa hay is equal in feeding value to a 

 pound of clover hay of equal brightness and quality. A 

 good stand of clover yields about 2)^ tons per acre per 

 year, while a good stand of alfalfa yields about 5 tons 

 per acre per year. Hence, on an acre of land, 1 100 pounds 

 of protein can be produced by raising alfalfa while only 

 340 pounds can be produced by growing clover, the pro- 



