Influence of Growth Conditions on Alfalfa Protein Degradability

D. Z. Skinner1, I. E. O. Abdelgadir2, T. K. Fish3, and R. C. Cochran2
USDA-ARS and Agronomy Dept.1, Animal Sciences Dept.2, and Plant Pathology Dept3.
Kansas State Univ.
Manhattan, KS 66506


The shortcomings of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) as a high quality forage include extensive ruminal degradation of the forage protein, sometimes with concomitant loss through ammonia formation. Previous research has shown that the degradability of total alfalfa protein varies among individual plants, and among harvest