Field Wilted and Direct Cut Dehydrated Alfalfa as Protein Sources for Growing Beef Cattle

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Abstract
Two cattle growth trials and two lamb digestion trials were conducted to determine quality differences between direct-cut dehydrated alfalfa and alfalfa wilted prior to dehydration. In cattle growth trial I, direct-cut alfalfa and urea, field-wilted alfalfa and urea, and soybean meal (SBM) as well as urea alone were compared as supplemental protein sources. The SBM supplemented ration produced greater (P<.001) gains and lower (P<.001) feed conversions than the dehydrated alfalfa-urea or urea rations. The dehy protein was fed at a lower level than SBM and appeared to be used with greater efficiency than SBM. The urea ration produced lower (P<.001) gains and greater (P<.001) feed conversion than all other rations. No differences in performance existed between cattle fed field-wilted and those fed direct-cut dehydrated alfalfa. In lamb digestion trial I, dry matter and acid detergent fiber digestibilities, mean ammonia concentrations (all hours), rumen pH and blood urea concentrations were not different for the two dehydrated alfalfa products. In cattle growth trial II, steers fed dehydrated alfalfa wilted to 60% or 40% moisture before dehydration performed as well as those fed direct-cut dehydrated alfalfa. Gains for steers fed dehydrated alfalfa were greater (P<.05) than for steers fed the urea ration. In lamb digestion trial II, no differences in nitrogen digestibility and rumen ammonia con centrations were found among dehydrated alfalfa rations. These data suggest that differences are very small between direct-cut dehydrated alfalfa and alfalfa field-wilted to 65%, 60% or 40% moisture before dehydration. Dehy was an excellent source of protein and digestible dry matter in these studies. Copyright © 1978. American Society of Animal Science . Copyright 1978 by American Society of Animal Science.