Alfalfa question...

[Brooks WV]

I was perusing ME News and saw an article about feeding alfalfa to beef cattle. I have four Highlands that get regular grass hay and a nice size chunck of 100% alfalfa. I never considered this, but it's DAIRY alfalfa. I bought a 1000 lb bale of organic alfalfa when I bought our Jersey and have a set-up where I can continue to get it from a 700 cow organic dairy near me. now, my Jersey girl she won't touch the stuff! She LOVES the regular old grass hay.

So, as I'm not feeding the Highlands an exclusive diet of very high protien alfalfa hay, I think they're fine....right? I hadn't even considered the difference between dairy and beef grade alfalfa.

[BlackWillowFarm]

I guess I don't know the difference between dairy and beef alfalfa. What is it? Around here they sell junky, moldy hay and call it "cow" hay.

[gone-a-milkin]

"Cow hay" is stuff that snooty horses and goats wont touch.
That is because it is usually mostly weeds or moldy, or both.

I have never heard of alfalfa being classified as dairy/beef grade though.
Usually it is described by which cutting it is from the field: 1st cutting, 2nd cutting, etc.

I have seen some pretty sorry excuses for alfalfa passed off aas 'cow hay'.
Full of burrs, all stems and brown. Blech.
I am with the picky goats, that stuff is NOT alfalfa.

The good stuff that is leafy and green? I have yet to meet a critter who would pass it up.

[sammyd]

never heard of beef or dairy alfalfa
What are the criteria?

[oneokie]

Usually the difference between Dairy and Beef alfalfa is the RFV (relative feed value). The dairy quality will have a higher RFV number and be priced accordingly.

[tinknal]

All cows are dairy cows. Some just have different customers.

[ksfarmer]

Dairy alfalfa just means it is the top quality alfalfa. For example in this area, horse alfalfa sells for $260-$300 per ton, dairy supreme is $220-$300 per ton, premium alfalfa is $200-$250, Utility-fair grinding alfalfa at the edge of the field is $180-$200 per ton. It's all a matter of quality.
I might add; Bluestem-good is $100-$140, brome is $110-150, and cornstalks ground and delivered for $100 per ton

[Brooks WV]

Originally Posted by tinknal

All cows are dairy cows. Some just have different customers.

That is perfect!

The "dairy" alfalfa has a much higher protien content. Maybe just a marketing ploy though...lol

The stuff I get is $300/ton. Not too bad considering it's certified organic and trucked from ND to WV! It's almost the same price as the mixed hay I see for sale around here.

[sammyd]

my neighbor the beef farmer used to sell me 4x6 rounds that tested better than 22% protein and we fed it to goats

[Molly Mckee]

Dairy cow's milk production is in direct relationship to the quality of their feed. Therefore "dairy quality" alfalfa is the best quality with the highest protein. Other things are important as well, but feed is the most important if you are selling milk.