Lactation Response to Artificially-Dehydrated and Pelleted Alfalfa Added to a Ration of Timothy-Grass Mixed Hay and Grain

Adequate artificial dehydration of alfalfa results in a minimum loss of nutrients and in a feed almost equivalent in value to that found at the time of cutting The ad libitum feeding of artificially-dehydrated and pelleted alfalfa as the sole source of roughage was found to be superior to field-cured and field-baled alfalfa for the young dairy calf (6) but not for the lactating cow (15). A reduction in fat percentage occurred when the pelleted alfalfa was fed (15) and, in one trial out of two, diminished feed intake was accompanied by decreases in yield of fat-corrected milk. Artificially-dehydrated and pelleted alfalfa fed as a grain replacement at the 30% level was superior to finely ground artificially-dehydrated alfalfa for milk production (3). The addition of 0.5 lb. of artificially-dehydrated and pelleted alfalfa per 100 lb. of live weight to a ration of alfalfa or prairie hay fed ad libitum, sorgo silage based on body weight, and grain based on milk production resulted in significant increases in hay equivalent consumed per cow per day and in fat-corrected milk (2).