Effect of Alfalfa Meal, Alfalfa Leaves, Alfalfa Stems and Fresh Alfalfa on Chick Growth

Abstract

Studies by variousinvestigators, Cooney et al. (1948);Draper et al. (1948); Lepkovsky et al. (1949);and Kodras et al. (1951), have shown that there is a relation between the depression of chick growth and the level of alfalfa meal in the rations. Data obtained by Cooney et al. with chicks fed rations containing alfalfa meal and equivalent levels of fiber in the form of cellu flour indicated that the chick growth depressing effect of alfalfa meal could not be entirely attributed to fiber.As an additional step in the solution of the problem an experiment was conducted to test and compare the growth depressing effect of alfalfa meal, alfalfa leaves, alfalfa stems and fresh alfalfa. The products were prepared from alfalfa cut in the bud stage and full bloom stage. Each product except the fresh alfalfa was dehydrated at a temperature between 104° and 122°F. The leaves and stems were separated manually from the dehydrated plants. The dehydrated products were then incorporated in the basal mash at the 20% level. The fresh alfalfa was prepared by cutting the green plants and quickly freezing them between cold * Published as Technical Paper No. 693 with the approval of the Directors of the Oregon Experiment Station. Contribution of the Departments of Poul-The data in this paper are taken from a thesis to be presented by R. Kodras to the faculty of the graduate school of Oregon State College in partial fulfillment for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.plates in a deep freezer at a temperature of approximately -13°F. After the alfalfa plants were frozen they were ground and stored at 10°F. Each day throughout the experimental period portions of the frozen alfalfa were thawed and then mixed by hand into the basal mash at a level equivalent to 20% dry alfalfa meal.The basal ration was the same as that used in previous studies (Kodras et al., 1951). The control ration contained 80% basal and 20% millrun. The crude protein values for the products tested were: alfalfa meal (bud stage) 17.5%; alfalfa leaves (bud stage) 22.1%; alfalfa stems (bud stage) 9.4%; millrun 16.1%; alfalfa meal (full bloom stage) 12.7%; alfalfa leaves (full bloom stage) 20.7%; alfalfa stems (full bloom stage) 6.6%. Moisture content determined after air-drying for the frozen alfalfa was: frozen alfalfa (bud stage) 70%; frozen alfalfa (full bloom stage) 58%.Twelve seven-day-old unsexed New Hampshire chicks were used in each lot. Average chick weights, feed consumption and feed utilization when the chicks were 5 and 8 weeks of age are presented in Table 1. Lots fed the fresh alfalfa rations were discontinued when the chicks were five weeks old.Results show that rations containing fresh alfalfa, alfalfa meal, alfalfa leaves and alfalfa stems cut in the bud stage or full bloom stage depressed chick growth. 786