ALFALFA AS A FEED STUFF 129 



The per cent of the protein and fat grows constantly less, 

 and that of the crude fiber greater, from the time of early 

 bloom to maturity. The average composition of all cut- 

 tings and crops shows the leaves to contain 150 per cent 

 more protein than the stems, 300 per cent more fat, 35 

 per cent more nitrogen-free extract, and 2^6 per cent less 

 crude fiber. 



5. The more important nutrients, protein and fat, 

 have the highest per cent of digestibility in the early cut- 

 tings and it grows less and less with the age of the plant. 



6. In the feeding tests, the highest gains were made 

 from the early cuttings and the lowest from the late, the 

 results standing proportionately as follows : early cutting, 

 100; medium, 85; and late, 75. 



7. The variation in the amount of the different cut- 

 tings eaten per day was very slight, being the highest for 

 the early cutting and the lowest for the late, but the quant- 

 ity of dry matter and also of digestible matter required 

 for a pound of gain was decidedly lowest for the early 

 cutting and highest for the late, the relative amounts of 

 dry matter standing as follows: early cutting, 100; 

 medium, 131; and late, 166. 



8. The annual beef product per acre was largest from 

 the early cuttings, not only in the general average but in 

 each separate season^s test, and that from the late cuttings 

 was smallest, the proportional products standing as fol- 

 lows: early cutting, 100; medium, 79 J^ ; and late, 69^. 



9. Taking all points of comparison into consideration, 

 both separately and collectively, including everything 

 that pertains to the largest yield and highest feeding 

 value, the tests favor cutting alfalfa for cattle feeding 

 when the first blooms appear. 



