ALFALFA 167 



ducing bloat is eliminated. Its feeding value is 

 nearly the same as that of the medium red clover, 

 thus making it in itself what may be termed a bal- 

 anced or perfect food for horses, mules, cattle and 

 sheep until development is completed and subse- 

 quently when they are at rest; that is, when they 

 are not producing, as in the form of labor or 

 milk. 



The highest use, probably, from feeding alfalfa 

 when green will arise from feeding it to milch cows. 

 Its high protein content in combination with its suc- 

 culence pre-eminently adapts it to such a use. Wher- 

 ever alfalfa can be grown and will produce even two 

 cuttings a year, it will serve a good purpose in pro- 

 ducing milk. Every dairyman dependent more or 

 less on soiling food will find it to his advantage to 

 grow alfalfa where it may be grown in good form. 

 When fed to milch cows, some meal added, carbo- 

 naceous in character, as corn or non-saccharine sor- 

 ghum seed, may prove a paying investment, and it 

 may also be advisable to alternate the green alfalfa, 

 morning or evening, with such other green crops as 

 oats and peas, millet, rape, corn or sorghum when 

 in season, to provide variety. But even though al- 

 falfa alone should be thus made to supplement the 

 pastures, the outcome should be at least fairly satis- 

 factory. When fed to horses that are working, some 

 care must be exercised in feeding it, lest too lax a 

 condition of the bowels should be induced, and a 

 grain factor should be fed at the same time. It has 

 frequently been given to sheep that were being fitted 

 for show purposes, but may also be fed green to the 



