The Comparative Value of Ladino Clover, Birdsfoot Trefoil, Timothy and Alfalfa Hays for Yield and Quality of Milk

Abstract

Summary Two experiments are reported on the value of different hays for milk production. In the first study, 15 Holstein cows were fed six types of hay in an incomplete block design experiment involving four periods of 5 wk. each. The hays studied included early-cut timothy, late-cut timothy, second crop alfalfa cut at early and late stages of maturity, birdsfoot trefoil ( Lotus corniculatus ) and ladino clover. Measurements were made of the palatability of the hays and of their effects upon milk production, and on the carotene, vitamin A and tocopherol contents and stability of the milk. The legume hays and early-cut timothy were approximately equal in value, but the late-cut timothy proved much less palatable and resulted in lower milk production than any of the other hays. On ad lib . feeding the average intake of late-cut timothy was only 35 to 44 per cent as much as of the other hays and the actual milk production was approximately 25 per cent lower. Milk of poor keeping qualities resulted during ladino clover feeding and appeared to be correlated with a low content of tocopherol in the milk fat. A second study with similar hays using four cows in a 4×4 Latin square design gave data in good agreement with the first test.