Freeze Dried Alfalfa as a Protein Source for Turkeys, 0–4 Weeks of Age

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate freeze dried alfalfa as a protein source for starting turkeys to four weeks of age. Freeze dried and dehydrated alfalfas were each fed at graded levels of 2.5 to 10 percent in corn-soybean diets. Body weight gain was reduced when the level of dehydrated alfalfa exceeded 2.5 or 5.0 percent, and when freeze dried alfalfa was fed at all levels. Freeze dried alfalfa reduced body weight gain more than dehydrated alfalfa. Feed efficiency data showed similar trends relative to treatments. When experimental diets were pelleted in the second experiment, some increase was seen in body weight gain with freeze dried alfalfa, and there was improvement in feed efficiency with the control and dehydrated alfalfa diets.