ALFALFA 



129 



ALFALFA 



BALANCES 

 THE CORN 



RATION 



KANS. EXP.-I4 PIGS- I8O 



The yield is generally largest for the first cutting of the season and 

 declines slightly for subsequent cuttings. Much, however, will depend 

 upon rainfall and available moisture which influences the growth. 



Alfalfa yields about twice as much as red clover and, being richer in 

 protein, produces about three times as much protein per acre. 



Other Uses of Alfalfa. Alfalfa makes an excellent soiling crop and 

 produces a succulent nitrogenous roughage, especially desirable for dairy 

 cows. Since it may be cut three or more times each season it may be quite 

 extensively used for this purpose. It, therefore, takes a very important 

 place in a soiling sys- 

 tem wherever it can 

 be satisfactorily 

 grown. 



The last cutting 

 of alfalfa comes at 

 about the right time 

 to combine with corn 

 for the making of en- 

 silage. One load of 

 alfalfa to every three 

 or four loads of corn 

 makes an excellent 

 combination. Alfalfa 

 is sometimes made 

 int-o silage by itself, 

 but makes a rather 

 sour, slimy product. 



While alfalfa is 

 not a pasture plant 

 and is easily injured 

 by pasturing, it may 

 be used especially for 



young stock and for swine. It makes a most excellent pasture for the 

 latter, and where it is to be used for this purpose will carry about forty 

 pigs and their dams per acre without being injured. It is generally 

 thought advisable to divide the field into two or three parts, pasturing one 

 part for a period, and then turning into another part. Frequently some 

 hay may be harvested in addition to pasturing. 



Alfalfa makes a range for poultry and may also be fed to poultry and 

 swine in the form of hay. 



Composition and Feeding Value. The composition of alfalfa is given 

 in Table I in Part III. The nutritive ratio of alfalfa hay is about 

 1 to 4. Extensive experiments at a number of experiment stations 



CORN & WATER 



IN DRY LOT 



I BO DAYS 



CORN & 



ALFALFA PASTURE 

 80 DAYS 



CORN & 



ALFALFA HAY 



100 DAYS 



KANS. BUL. 192 



COMPARISON OP HOGS FED ON CORN AND ON ALFALFA.*- 



1 Courtesy of The International Harvester Company, Agricultural Extension Department, 

 pamphlet "Livestock on Every Farm." 



From 



