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dangers feeding frozen alfalfa
I am forwarding Bruce Anderson's response so the forage-mg group can read it
as well.
>Return-Path: <bandersn@UNLVM.UNL.EDU>
>X-Sender: bandersn@unlvm.unl.edu
>Date: Fri, 07 Nov 1997 13:28:35 -0600
>To: Robert J. Stephenson <agbb@fhsu.edu>,John Fritz <agrojof@ksu.edu>,
> Pam Murray <csas001@unlvm.unl.edu>
>From: Bruce Anderson <bandersn@unlvm.unl.edu>
>Subject: dangers feeding frozen alfalfa
>
>Mr. Stephenson:
>
> John Fritz at Kansas State asked people to reply to your question.
>Alfalfa harvested during the first couple days after a hard freeze sometimes
>has elevated nitrate levels. Sometimes, but not often, the nitrate levels
>are high enough to be toxic. More commonly, they reach levels that are not
>toxic by themselves but are close enough that feeding the alfalfa hay will
>no longer dilute high nitrate levels of other hay fed at the same time.
>
> The nitrate levels will decline naturally in standing alfalfa,
>especially if the hard freeze is not followed within the next couple days by
>an even colder freeze that completely kills all alfalfa top growth.
>
>Bruce Anderson
>Extension Forage Specialist
>University of Nebraska-Lincoln
>
>
***********************
Pam Murray, Coordinator
Center for Grassland Studies and
Center for Sustainable Agricultural Systems
PO Box 830949
University of Nebraska
Lincoln, NE 68583-0949
phone: 402-472-9383
fax: 402-472-4104
e-mail: csas001@unlvm.unl.edu