The Effect of Alfalfa Meal on Early Growth of Chicks1,2

IN STUDIES conducted several years ago at this Station to ascertain the feasibility of supplying all the supple-mentary riboflavin and carotene required in chick rations entirely from alfalfa meal, considerable variation was encountered among the several meals in the maximum amounts that could be used without de-pressing growth. Studies were therefore initiated to ascertain the extent of the occurrence of meals possessing marked growth-inhibitory properties. The objec-tives included investigation of the possible causes of this apparent inhibitory effect, means of preventing or overcoming it, and the maximum level at which inhibi-tory meals could be fed without expres-sion of depression. Since this project was initiated, other investigators have published observations indicating that excessive amounts of alfalfa may be detrimental. Cooney, Butts and Bacon (1948) reported that a sample of dehydrated alfalfa meal caused progressive depression of early growth and feed utilization of chicks as the level in the ration was increased beyond five percent. This effect could not be ascribed to fiber. Draper (1948) reported similar depression of growth with either sun-cured or dehydrated alfalfa meal. Kodras, Cooney and Butts (1951) also found both kinds of meals to depress growth. The