The Adequacy of an All-alfalfa Hay Ration for Milk Secretion

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Abstract
When 8 cows were fed according to their net energy requirements from 56 to 154 days on either alfalfa hay alone or in combination with a purified carbohydrate or carbohydrate and fat mixture, so that the amt. of dry matter in the ration was not excessive, no abnormal decrease in milk yield was observed. In 10 trials the replacement of the purified mixtures with corn did not result in any changes in milk production which could not be explained on the basis of the calculated net energy intake. In 2 trials there was no increase in milk production when alfalfa hay was replaced by either fat or a purified carbohydrate mixture. Calculations indicate that the milk production-increasing effect of corn and other concentrates added to an all-alfalfa ration as reported in previous work can be explained on a net energy basis.