PSVI-6 Effects of feeding a novel alfalfa leaf pellet (ProLEAF MAX™) and an alfalfa stem byproduct (ProFiber Plus™) on growth and conception rates of developing dairy heifers

Abstract

Abstract Alfalfa is a commonly grown forage in the Intermountain west and is often included in rations for dairy animals. This study investigated the effects of including novel alfalfa products: ProLEAF MAX™ (PLM), an alfalfa leaf pellet; and ProFiber Plus™ (PFP), alfalfa stems, in the ration of dairy heifers on growth, feed efficiency, and conception. Heifers were stratified by weight and farm origin, and randomly allocated to one of three treatment groups (n = 8/treatment): control (CON, typical ration that included alfalfa hay), PLM+PFP (a ration that replaced alfalfa hay with PLM and PFP), or PFP (a ration that replaced alfalfa hay with PFP). Heifers were fed for 84 d in individual pens and feed intake and refusals were recorded daily. Weight, hip height, and wither height were recorded every two weeks and blood was collected every four weeks. Additionally, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and conception rates were measured. Data were analyzed with day as a repeated measure and treatment as a fixed effect. Heifers fed the CON ration had increased (P < 0.05) weight gain, hip height, and dry matter intake over time compared to the treatment groups. There was a treatment*time (P < 0.05) effect on feed efficiency where heifers fed the PFP had more variable feed efficiency than CON or PLM+PFP. Treatment had an effect (P > 0.03) on BUN where CON heifers had increased BUN compared to those fed PFP. No differences (P < 0.05) were observed in conception. These data provide insight into how performance of growing heifers is affected when novel alfalfa products are included in the ration and indicate that inclusion of PFP might decrease growth of heifers by decreasing DMI. More research needs to be done to determine whether there is an optimal amount of these products to include in heifer rations.