Alfalfa. 
5 
Cutting 
/ 
Condition of 
the Plants 
Air Dried Hay. 
Thoroughly Dried Hay 
Moisture 
Ash 
Ether 
Extract 
Crude 
Protein 
Crude 
Fiber 
l • 
0 
<L M 
£ ® 
-w <L> 
•rH fc. 
Total 
Nitrogen 
Ash 
Ether 
Extract 
Crude 
Protein 
Crude 
Fibre 
Nitrogen 
Free Ext. 
a 
<X> 
b0 
o 
CO 
H 
2.624 
2.508 
2.687 
2.606 
1 
1 
1 
1 
Coming in bloom. 
In half bloom. 
In full bloom. 
Average. 
7.22 
7.92 
6.38 
7.17 
9.81 
11.89 
10.57 
10.76 
1.15 
1.26 
1.31 
1.24 
15.16 
14.46 
15.73 
15.12 
36.49 
32.8C 
34.91 
34.73 
30.17 
31.67 
31.11 
30.98 
2.426 
2.310 
2.516 
2.417 
10.57 
12.92 
11.29 
11.44 
1.24 
1.36 
1.40 
1.33 
16.47 
15.70 
16.80 
16.32 
39.43 
35.62 
37.29 
37.44 
32.29 
34.41 
33.23 
33.31 
2 
Coming in bloom. 
4,43 
12.70 
1.71 
17.68 
27.47 
36.01 
2.858 
13.28 
1.78 
18.50 
28.75 
37.69 
2.990 
2 
In half bloom. 
9.48 
1134 
1.50 
17.14 
24.27 
36.27 
2.743 
12.53 
1.65 
18.94 
26.81 
40.08 
3.032 
In full bloom. 
8.56 
9.91 
1.78 
16.41 
27.11 
36.24 
2.625 
10.84 
1.95 
17.94 
29.64 
39.64 
2 880 
2 
Average. 
7.49 
11.32 
1.66 
17.08 
26.28 
36.17 
2.742 
12.22 
1.79 
18.46 
28.38 
39.13 
2.967 
3 
Coming in bloom. 
8.64 
12.24 
1.72 
16.53 
24.30 
36.57 
2.645 
13.39 
1.88 
18.09 
26.59 
40.04 
2.894 
3 
In half bloom. 
7.43 
11.07 
1.52 
15.52 
30.55 
33.92 
2.482 
11.96 
1.64 
16.76 
33.00 
36.65 
2.681 
3 
In full bloom. 
8.36 
10.66 
1.83 
15.59 
30.18 
33.38 
2.495 
11.63 
2.00 
17.01 
32.94 
36.42 
2.722 
Average. 
8.14 
11.32 
1.69 
15.88 
28.34 
34.62 
2.540 
12.33 
1.84 
17.29 
30.84 
37.70 
2.766 
For a large number of analyses and a discussion of the individual 
groups or fodder constituents see Bui. 35 , p. 90 , also pp. 13 - 25 . 
Relative Value of the Different Cuttings of Alfalfa.—I have stated 
in a preceding section that the usual practice is to cut alfalfa when it 
has not yet advanced to the stage of half bloom, though it is my opin¬ 
ion that the best general purpose hay is obtained by cutting it when 
it is in full bloom. There are good reasons why the practice of cut¬ 
ting it when in early to half bloom has come to be so generally adopted, 
but these reasons do not effect the subject discussed in this para¬ 
graph. I have also given the composition of the first, second and 
third cutting taken at the periods of coming into bloom, in half 
bloom and in full bloom, from which it appears that the extreme dif¬ 
ferences in the composition of alfalfa hay are less than they are fre¬ 
quently assumed to be. This fact explains the varying opinions held 
in regard to their relative values. There are some differences in com¬ 
position but they are not big enough to produce the differences which 
come under the notice of the feeder. The analyses given in the 
preceding table, in my judgment,faithfully represent the composition 
of good Colorado alfalfa hay grown under average conditions for 
Northern Colorado. That the analyses given really represent the 
composition of Colorado alfalfa hay is evident from the following ana¬ 
lysis which is the average obtained for the first cutting for three 
consecutive years; moisture, 6.86; ash, 10 . 65 ; fat, 1 . 54 ; protein, 
15 . 00 ; crude fibre, 33 . 29 ; nitrogen-free extract, 32 . 12 . 
The above average is obtained from 19 closely agreeing analyses 
of first cutting alfalfa hay. 
