The Effect of Feeding Dehydrated Alfalfa Leaf Meal and Trace Minerals to Growing Beef Calves Fed Poor Quality Prairie Hay

Dehydrated alfalfa leaf meal and trace minerals were added to a basal growing ration composed of poor quality prairie hay, 2 lb. of cottonseed meal and 4 lb. of ground milo grain. Levels of 1, 2 and 3 lb. of dehydrated alfalfa leaf meal substituted for hay produced higher daily gains and more efficient gains. The steers which received this supplement gained 15.4% faster and required 15.2% less feed per unit of gain. Blood plasma carotene levels were increased with increasing levels of dehydrated alfalfa leaf meal. Plasma carotene in the steers receiving 3 lb. of dehydrated alfalfa leaf meal daily had increased 90% above the level at the beginning of the test, and was 200% above the level found in the controls at the close of the experiment. Steers not receiving dehydrated alfalfa leaf meal were unable to maintain their plasma carotene levels which decreased by 40% during this study. Trace minerals did not change the performance of the steers and were without effect when added to a poor quality prairie hay ration under the conditions of this test.