Category: Animal Nutrition

Lucerne, also known as alfalfa, is a perennial legume that is grown for its forage and hay. The history of lucerne farming dates back to ancient times. It is believed that lucerne was first domesticated in Central Asia, and it was later introduced to other parts of the world, including Europe, Africa, and Asia. Lucerne farming became more widespread in the Middle Ages, and it was an important crop during the Crusades. Lucerne was also introduced to the Americas by European settlers in the 16th century. Lucerne farming has continued…

Introduction Hay making is the process of turning green, perishable forage into a product that can be safely stored and easily transported without danger of spoilage, while keeping nutrient loss to a minimum. This involves reducing its moisture content from 70 – 90% to 20 – 25% or less Techniques for natural pasture, sown pasture and crops specifically cultivated for conservation at three levels of technology are considered: manual haymaking; simple mechanization with draught animal power or small tractors; and fully mechanized systems. It is, of course, possible to have…