1 68 THE BOOK OF ALFALFA 



Horses do not need a heavy ration of alfalfa hay. Fed 

 with grain, probably lo or 15 pounds of it is equal to a 

 manger full of other hay. As they become accustomed 

 to the alfalfa it may be increased a little, and the grain 

 decreased. It is a rich food and should not be used as 

 freely as hays with less protein. 



Prof. L. A. Merrill of the Utah station made six tests 

 of alfalfa hay in comparison with timothy for horses 

 under varying conditions of work, and found that it was 

 less difficult to maintain their weight with alfalfa. The 

 appearance of the horses in every comparison was in 

 favor of the alfalfa-fed horse, and no ill results were 

 noted on their health by long-continued alfalfa feeding. 

 Fourteen-hundred pound horses at hard work could be 

 maintained in condition on 32.6 pounds of alfalfa hay 

 per day, and at rest 20 pounds was sufficient for the 

 same horses. 



The quantity of hay fed on most farms could be reduced 

 at least one-half. 



With all its merits alfalfa hay is by no means a prop- 

 erly balanced ration for all purposes, and those unac- 

 quainted with this fact are liable to feed it, exclusively or 

 otherwise, in such quantities as are both extravagant and 

 harmful. D. C. Smead, a veterinarian of note, in writing 

 about using the hay in too great quantities, especially in 

 feeding horses, says this : 



"There is more danger in deranging the digestion of 

 man or beast by an excess of protein food than by over- 

 feeding on a carbonaceous food. The proteins in food 

 are more easily acted upon by the digestive fluids, and 

 thus more easily digested and carried into the blood, 



