988 
Journal of Agricultural Research 
Vol. XXXI, No. 10 
PREPARATION OF THE ALFALFA HAY AND ALFALFA MEAL 
The alfalfa hay used was grown in Idaho. From a chosen lot, one 
half was ground to a fine meal, in the presence of H. P. Armsby, on 
November 20, 1911, at a commercial mill in Kansas City, Mo. The 
fine dust which separated from the hay during the grinding was care¬ 
fully collected and returned to the ground hay. Then both the ground 
and the unground hay were shipped to the Institute of Animal 
Nutrition at State College, Pa. The hay was of a bright-green 
color and excellent quality. 
In order to reduce the unground hay to a condition making it con¬ 
venient to sample for chemical analysis and to handle in the metabol¬ 
ism experiment, it was cut by running through a silage cutter (without 
the blower). During this process much of the leaf broke up into a 
fine condition. Of this cut hay, 60 per cent would pass through a 
■^-inch-mesh sieve, and about 35 per cent through a -inch-mesh 
sieve. Comparatively long pieces, however, passed through these 
sieves lengthwise. 
On account of the fight, dusty character of the finely ground hay 
it was necessary to feed it mixed with water, which was added in an 
amount about equal to the weight of the hay; and in order to keep 
conditions as nearly as possible the same in all periods, the coarsely 
cut hay was similarly moistened. 
COMPOSITION OF THE FEEDING STUFFS 
The composition and energy values of dry matter of the feeds are 
f iven in Table II. True protein, as there reported, was determined 
y the Stutzer method. 
Table IL — Dry matter of alfalfa hay and alfalfa meal, and composition of the dry 
matter 
Hay 
Meal 
Period 
I 
Period 
III 
Period 
V 
Average 
Period 
II 
Period 
IV 
Period 
VI 
Average 
Per cent 
Per cent 
Per cent 
Per cent 
Per cent 
Per cent 
Per cent 
Per cent 
Dry matter__ 
88.52 
88.67 
87.21 
88.13 
88.98 
90.13 
90.14 
89.75 
Ash.... 
9.14 
8.93 
9.12 
9.06 
9.54 
9.09 
9.09 
9.24 
True protein_ 
12.70 
12.29 
12.13 
12.37 
12.06 
11.60 
11.60 
11.75 
Nonprotein_ 
2.63 
3.05 
2.91 
2.86 
2.82 
2.89 
2.89 
2.87 
Crude fiber-1.. 
29.44 
30.06 
30.82 
30.11 
30.49 
31.44 
31.44 
31.12 
Nitrogen-free extract.. 
44.10 
43.70 
43.11 
43.64 
43.37 
43.07 
43.07 
43.17 
Ether extract_ 
1.99 
1.97 
1.91 
1.96 
1.72 
1.91 
1.91 
1.85 
• 
100.00 
100.00 
100.00 
100.00 
100.00 
* 100.00 
100.00 
100.00 
Total nitrogen- 
2.59 
2.61 
2.56 
2.59 
2.53 
<;«, I i 
2.47 
' ’ -52.47 
2 49 
True protein nitrogen. 
2.-03 
1.97 
1.94 
1.98 
1.93 
1-.86 
1.86 
1.88 
Carbon_ 
44.89 
44.78 
45.27 
44.98 
44.92 
45,17 
45.17 
45.09 
Energy, calories • per 
kg- 
4,353.80 
4,338. 30 
4,411.80 
4,368.00 
4,363. 70 
4,378.70 
4,378.70 
4,373.70 
• Throughout this article the word “ calorie ” signifies the large, or kilogram, calorie, unless the contrary 
is specifically stated. 
