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Bloat in Cattle. VII. Relation to Amino Acid Composition of Alfalfa as Affected by Maturity¹

Departments of Dairy Science and Flour and Feed Milling Industries, Kansas State University, Manhattan

ABSTRACT

The aerial portions of alfalfa plants of different maturities were separated into a nonprotein nitrogen fraction and a water-soluble fraction. The whole plant and each fraction were analyzed for nitrogen and for 17 amino acids. The bloating tendency of alfalfa was determined by permitting bloat-susceptible cattle to graze the pasture.

Changes in plant maturity during two seasons had little, if any, effect on the amino acid composition of the whole alfalfa plant, nonprotein nitrogen fraction, or soluble fraction. The nitrogen content of the whole plant and its fractions decreased with increasing maturity. In general, the incidence of bloat also decreased with increasing maturity. It was not possible to establish any clear association between the amino acid content of the aerial portion of the alfalfa plant and stage of maturity or the bloat-provoking ability associated with stage of maturity.

¹ Contribution No. 330, Department of Dairy Science and No. 493, Department of Flour and Feed Milling Industries, Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station, Manhattan, Kansas.