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Forage Evaluation. I. Performance of Holstein Heifers Fed Only Early-Cut or Late-Cut Alfalfa Hay on a Free-Choice Basis^{1, 2,}

Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul

ABSTRACT

Early-cut and late-cut alfalfa hays were evaluated by various prediction formulae from the literature, using chemical analysis of the hays for dry matter, crude protein, and crude fiber. For the early- and late-cut hays, respectively, the values on a dry basis were crude protein—19.5 vs. 15.5%, crude fiber—28.9 vs. 32.7%, range of total digestible nutrients (TDN) (%)—55 to 65 vs. 52 to 60, estimated net energy (Mcal/ 45.4 kg dry matter)—43 to 56 vs. 37 to 49.

The heifers ate more early- than late-cut hay. Intakes expressed as percentages of body weight or per metabolic weight unit (weight 3/4) also were used. Weight gains were higher on the early-cut than on the late-cut hays, but showed opposite trends with time, i.e., highest with early-cut in first phase of trial and highest with late-cut in last phase of the trial.

A method to evaluate forage energy production formulae by comparing the various energy intake estimates to requirements was used. Nine systems of hay evaluation proved inadequate to differentiate the two hays to stimulate growth in heifers.

¹ Scientific Journal Series, Paper no. 6330, Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station.

² Data are based partly on a Ph.D. thesis by Harbans Singh.

³ Present address: International House, 600-9th Ave., S.E., Minneapolis, Minnesota.

⁴ Present address: Department of Dairy, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan.