If you raise beef cattle, alfalfa hay can be an excellent source of protein and energy for your animal. But to get the most benefit from this resource, you need to know how to feed it correctly and what qualities to look for when purchasing hay.
“Hay cost has long been the major deciding factor when it comes to feeding cattle,” according to Brad Smith of the University of Kentucky. To combat this mindset, he and his colleagues completely revamped a 30-year-old publication called Alfalfa for Beef Cows with funding provided by Alfalfa Checkoff.”
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How to Choose the Right Alfalfa Hay
No matter what kind of animal you feed – cattle, horses, sheep or goats – good quality hay is an integral part of their diet. In times of drought or other shortages in pasture, hay may be the only source of nutrition your animals have access to.
Alfalfa is one of the most commonly fed hays to livestock. Not only is it highly palatable, but also provides essential nutrients like protein, calcium, vitamin A and energy.
Dairy and lactating cows should be fed a high-quality hay that contains as much protein as possible. The ideal hays for these animals include early bloom alfalfa or Timothy hay.
When feeding calves, soft hay that was cut before bloom stage is recommended as it contains more nutrients and is easier to chew for them. Young calves have tender mouths and cannot effectively chew coarse hay.
Alfalfa Hay Health
Alfalfa hay is an energy and protein supplement for cattle looking to gain weight. Not only does it contain protein, but also essential minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron and phosphorus.
When providing alfalfa hay to cattle, timing is of the essence. First-cut alfalfa is generally more nutritious and high in crude protein than second or third cut hay.
It is also essential to make sure the hay does not smell moldy or dusty, as mold can lead to respiratory issues in cows who are pregnant.
For optimal nutritional benefit from alfalfa hay, it is necessary to combine it with grass hay. Doing this allows the cattle to digest both protein and carbohydrates found in alfalfa hay more easily, leading to increased dietary intake.
Alfalfa Hay Safety
When selecting hay for your livestock, it is essential to select high quality hay that is free from mold, weeds, dust, foreign objects or blister beetles. Furthermore, make sure the hay has a nutrient profile suitable for your animals’ needs.
When purchasing hay, it is best to source it from a reputable supplier who can provide high-quality weed-free alfalfa. First-cut hay tends to have higher crude protein but lower leaf matter content while second and third cut have an improved leaf-to-stem ratio.
When to harvest alfalfa depends on the growing season. In northern Red River Valley of Canada, for instance, it is best to take your first cutting in mid-May when plants are in late bud to early bloom.
When feeding alfalfa hay to your cattle, be sure to employ proper management practices which can significantly reduce the risk of pasture bloat. These include:
Alfalfa Hay Rotation
Alfalfa hay is an essential part of cattle’s diet, providing them with high yielding, nutritious forage that’s suitable for both beef and dairy cattle.
Farmers often cultivate alfalfa as a stand-in crop, but many also mix it in with other forage crops to increase productivity, promote soil health and reduce the need for chemical fertilizers.
Alfalfa can be grown on a variety of soils, but it thrives best in well-drained neutral pH (6.5 – 7.5) soils with adequate levels of phosphorus and potassium. Typically, an application of lime to acid fields before planting perennial forage grasses is recommended.
Alfalfa is a drought-tolerant cool-season legume and grass that makes for excellent pastures in summertime. Its deep roots help to retain soil water that would otherwise be lost to runoff, thus decreasing erosion.
