Choosing the right protein may help bring the cost of feed down and more accurately meet the needs of our cattle. In some rations, alfalfa might be that choice.
Whether cattle are on winter range, corn stalks, or being fed prairie/grass hay, they often will need extra protein in their diet. Protein sources vary in cost and effectiveness. Protein is important because it is used by the rumen microbes to help break down low quality forage and then used by the animal itself as microbial protein as they pass through the digestive tract. It’s essentially used twice.
Many times, alfalfa is one of the cheapest natural sources of protein. It’s easy to use and doesn’t require additional equipment. Non-protein sources of nitrogen such as urea may be cheap but won’t be as effective with low quality forage as rumen microbes need additional energy to turn the urea nitrogen into protein the animal can use. Alfalfa hay on the other hand is highly digestible, feeding both the animal and rumen, often increasing consumption of low-quality feeds.
To be effective, alfalfa should be used as a supplement, not the whole diet, with only enough fed to overcome the deficit in protein the cow has from its current diet. A forage test along with knowing the requirements of the class of animal you are feeding, and consumption rate can be used to determine just how much additional protein will be needed.
Some winter diets such as winter range, corn stalks, or grass hay may require quite a bit of additional protein supplementation. While supplementing regularly may seem daunting, research has shown supplementing protein three times weekly is just as effective as daily supplementation as long as requirements are being met.
Feeding the right amount and choosing the right protein for your needs can save money. Alfalfa might just be the golden ticket.
Ben Beckman is with University of Nebraska Extension.
