The Effect of Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal in the Breeder Ration on Hatchability in Turkeys and on the Response of Poults to Alfalfa Feeding

ALFALFA meal has been shown to inhibit the growth of chicks when fed at 5 to 20 percent of the ration (Cooney et al., 1948; Lepkovsky et al., 1949; and Heywang, 1950). Peterson (1950) reported that the growth inhibitor resembles a saponin in properties, and may be counteracted by simultaneously feeding cholesterol. Heywang and Bird (1954) were able to depress the growth of chicks by feeding alfalfa saponins. German and Couch (1950) tested two samples of alfalfa leaf meal and found one to be highly inhibitory for chicks and poults while the other did not depress growth when fed at 10 percent of the ration. Wilgus and Madsen (1954) tested several samples of alfalfa meal and found great variation in chick growth inhibitory activity. There has been no work to indicate whether alfalfa meal has any adverse effect on hatchability in poultry, or upon performance of the offspring when fed . . .