Alfalfa Hay

Description

Alfalfa is a flowering plant in the pea family cultivated as an important forage crop. In the UK it is known as lucerne and lucerne grass in South Asia. Alfalfa is widely grown throughout the world as forage for cattle. Alfalfa is one of the most important legumes used in agriculture. The US is the largest Alfalfa producer in the world, but considerable area is found in Argentina (primarily grazed), Australia, South Africa, and the Middle East. The leading Alfalfa growing states within the U.S.A. are California, South Dakota and Wisconsin. The upper Midwestern states account for about 50% of US production, the Northeastern states 10%, the Western states 40% and the Southeastern states almost none. Its primary use is as feed for dairy cattle because of its high protein, and secondarily for beef cattle, horses, sheep, and goats. Humans also eat Alfalfa in many forms and Alfalfa has been used as an herbal medicine for over 1,500 years. Alfalfa is high in protein, calcium, plus other minerals and vitamins A, B, C, D, E and K