240 PRINCIPLES OF FEEDiyO FARM ANIMALS 



horses may utilize considerable alfalfa by feeding timothy 

 hay with it. Alfalfa leaves, or the entire plant fed whole, 

 chopped, or ground may be utiUzed to advantage as a supple- 

 ment to corn for growing pigs. It is the best roughage avail- 

 able for lambs. 



For Fattening Stock. — Alfalfa hay is very good for all 

 fattening stock except hogs. It furnishes a large part of 

 the protein which otherwise would have to be furnished by 

 expensive concentrates. 



Only a small amount of nitrogenous concentrates is needed 

 in a ration of corn and alfalfa hay for fattening cattle. Its 

 use also materially decreases the amount of concentrates 

 needed. Only small amounts of alfalfa hay should be used 

 in the rations of fattening hogs, owing to their inabiUty to 

 handle large quantities of bulky feeds. It will usually pay 

 to buy some less bulky nitrogenous concentrate as a supple- 

 ment to corn for hogs. It is difficult to improve a ration of 

 corn and alfalfa hay for fattening lambs or sheep. Alfalfa 

 hay may be used quite extensively in the rations of horses 

 which are being fattened for the market. 



For Breeding Stock. — Alfalfa hay is very good for breeding 

 animals, not only on account of its chemical composition, 

 but also on account of its laxative effect. 



Breeding cows which have free access to alfalfa hay need 

 little or no grain during the winter. If not dusty, it is very 

 suitable for brood mares. However, not only because of 

 its cost but also because of its high protein content and laxa- 

 tive nature it is usually fed with some other roughage. It 

 may be fed from racks to brood sows with very good results. 

 Breeding ewes may be successfully wintered up until a few 

 weeks of lambing time on alfalfa hay alone. 



