The Comparative Value of Ladino Clover, Birdsfoot Trefoil, Timothy and Alfalfa Hays for Yield and Quality of Milk

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Abstract
Two expts. are reported on the value of different hays for milk production. In the first study, 15 Holstein cows were fed 6 types of hay in an incomplete block design expt. involving four periods of 5 wks. each. The hays studied included early-cut timothy, late-cut timothy, 2 crop alfalfa cut at early and late stages of maturity, birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) and ladino clover. Measurements were made of the palatability of the hays and of their effects upon milk production, and on the carotene, vitamin A and tocopherol contents and stability of the milk. The legume hays and early-cut timothy were approximately equal in value, but the late-cut timothy proved much less palatable and resulted in lower milk production than any of the other hays. On ad lib. feeding the avg. intake of late-cut timothy was only 35 to 44% as much as of the other hays and the actual milk production was approx. 25% lower. Milk of poor keeping qualities resulted during ladino clover feeding and appeared to be correlated with a low content of tocopherol in the milk fat. The 2d study with similar hays gave results in good agreement with the first test.

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