Fattening Steers 87 



localities, clover or wild hays are used in place of alfalfa, 

 but there are many times the number of cattle fattened 

 on alfalfa as on all of the other hays together. The chief 

 reason for this is that the alfalfa meadows yield more 

 and last longer than clover meadows. Clover is grown 

 only in the section where grain is the chief crop, the clover 

 being used as a rotation crop with grain. Because alfalfa 

 is grown under irrigation and cured practically without 

 rain, it possesses a very high feeding value, but not higher 

 than that of clover raised under the same conditions ; in 

 fact, if there is any difference the clover is the better, 

 especially when fed without grain, as is the general custom 

 throughout the West. The almost universal preference 

 for alfalfa over clover, therefore, is based on economy of 

 production. Chopped alfalfa is now being extensively 

 used throughout the West. Chopped alfalfa is alfalfa hay 

 cut into lengths of about one-half to three-fourths inch by 

 running through a large cutter. The alfalfa is stacked in 

 the field in the usual manner and after it has stood for a 

 few weeks so as to sweat out thoroughly, the cutter is drawn 

 up beside the stack and the hay chopped, and then restacked 

 in the field. It is surprising that the chopped hay stacks as 

 well as the long hay, and seems to turn water as well. In 

 the winter the chopped hay is fed in the same manner 

 as long hay except that it is hauled in tight racks and 

 handled with silage or coal forks. Alfalfa meal is similar 

 to chopped alfalfa, except that the hay is ground up very 

 fine. The meal has no apparent advantage over the 

 chopped hay and since grinding is expensive, the meal is 

 not widely used. The advantages of the chopped hay 

 are ease of handling, saving of waste, and possibly an 

 increased gain. One man can feed more cattle on chopped 

 hay than on long hay, and the cattle eat it all up clean 



