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 soas 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 
