Alfalfa Meal in Chick Rations

Abstract

A review of literature on the subject of feeding alfalfa meal to chicks brings out the following points that would justify its use in poultry rations: (1) Alfalfa is a good source of arginine, lysine, cystine, and tryptophane, and a reasonably good source of methionine with the glycine level remaining questionable. Other valuable amino acids are also present. (2) Alfalfa meal can be an excellent source of vitamins, particularly is this true with respect to carotene (pro-vitamin A), riboflavin, pantothenic acid, alphatocopherol, and vitamin K. (3) Contrary to popular belief, good quality alfalfa meal furnishes from 30 to 40 percent as much total digestible nutrients per unit of weight as the common cereal grains. (4) Alfalfa meal is a feedstuff that is normally available in large quantities at prices often below that of grains and other accepted ingredients.As a result of a great many experiments throughout the country with .