Authors : A. Mirzaei-Aghsaghali , N. Maheri-Sis , A. Mirza-Aghazadeh , A.R. Safaei and A. Aghajanzadeh-Golshani
Abstract: Alfalfa is highly valued for animal feed because of its high protein content, high intake potential anddigestibility. Alfalfa hay is valued by nutritionists for its relatively high energy value which supports milk production, its rapid ruminal digestion of structural fiber which stimulates feed intake, its coarse structural fiber that stimulates ruminative chewing and salivation, which results in rumen buffering, its structural fiber which has high buffering capacity, its high protein level which supports animal protein needs andthe relatively high proportion of its protein that escapes the rumen undegraded which minimizes dietary requirements for high cost protein supplements. This review evaluates Iranian hays especially common alfalfa varieties in regard to relative forage quality, nutrient composition, nutrient digestion andtheir impact on microbial protein synthesis. Different alfalfa species differ inherently in their rate of reproductive development. This results not only in changes in chemical and anatomical characteristics, but also in the proportion of plant parts, e.g. leaf, stem, pseudostem, potiole, inflorescence, which in turn differ significantly in their quality attributes. Management and environment can then play a significant role in affecting nutritive value, either by directly altering chemical and anatomical traits or by influencing the timing of changes in plant phenology.
A. Mirzaei-Aghsaghali , N. Maheri-Sis , A. Mirza-Aghazadeh , A.R. Safaei and A. Aghajanzadeh-Golshani , 2008. Nutritional Value of Alfalfa Varieties for Ruminants with Emphasis on Different Measuring Methods: A Review. Research Journal of Biological Sciences, 3: 1227-1241.