Nutritional Information - Chaffhaye Alfalfa
So that you can be sure you are getting the highest nutrition, Chaffhaye Alfalfa is tested by an independent, third-party laboratory. The table below highlights a nutritional analysis, as well as each nutrient's role in promoting animal health and performance.
PRIMARY NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION |
CHAFFHAYE ALFALFA |
BENEFIT |
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As Fed |
In Dry Form |
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Crude Fiber |
Max |
11% |
23% |
Required for proper gut motility and digestion. High fiber intake reduces incidence of diarrhea, colic and laminitis. |
Crude Protein |
Min |
9% |
20% |
Building material for body. Improves growth, endurance, reproduction and performance of animals (lactation, fleece, horn, hooves, etc.) |
Lysine |
Min |
0.40% |
0.80% |
An essential amino acid for growth, and constitutes a percentage of muscle mass. |
Methionine |
Min |
0.10% |
0.20% |
An essential amino acid for growth, and constitutes a percentage of muscle mass. |
Crude Fat |
Min |
1.80% |
4.00% |
Increases energy. Improves palatability. |
Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF) |
Max |
15% |
33% |
For alfalfa, lower values reflect low levels of stem matter and high levels of nutrient-dense leaf matter. For grass, the high NDF signifies high fiber content of forage. |
Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF) |
Max |
15% |
34% |
Indicates the amount of acid soluble fiber and lignin in forage. An ADF% of <35% and <40% for alfalfa and grass, respectively, indicate premium quality. |
Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN) |
Min |
29.30% |
65% |
Both TDN% values of alfalfa and grass indicate premium to supreme quality grade. |
Calcium (Ca) |
Min |
0.70% |
1.60% |
Required for bone development and strength. Important in muscle contraction, metabolism, blood clotting, activation of enzymes. |
Phosphorus (P) |
Min |
0.10% |
0.20% |
Metabolizes fat, carbohydrates, calcium and sugar. Important in bone growth, production of energy, and proper utilization of vitamins. |
Copper (Cu) |
Min |
3.6 ppm |
8 ppm |
Required in several enzyme systems that maintain and synthesize connective tissue. Aids reproduction and promotes immune system. Supports hair color in ruminants. |
Zinc (Zn) |
Min |
8.1 ppm |
18 ppm |
Required in several enzyme systems for growth and maintenance of cartilage, hoof formation, and healthy skin. |
Selenium (Se) |
Min |
0.9 ppm |
0.20 ppm |
Instrumental in proper muscle growth and function. Prevents white muscle disease in young. |
Selenium (Se) |
Max |
0.18 ppm |
0.40 ppm |
Selenium beyond 2.0 part per million (ppm) can be toxic for some animals. |
Vitamin A |
Min |
180 iu/lb |
400 iu/lb |
Helps ensure red blood cell production, tendon strength, fertility and healthy skin. |
Vitamin D |
Min |
675 iu/lb |
1500 iu/lb |
Regulates the absorption of calcium and magnesium, and the excretion of phosphorus. |
Vitamin E |
Min |
45 iu/lb |
100 iu/lb |
Improves the stamina and performance of livestock. Aids in muscle strength. |
Natural Plant Juices |
Max |
55% |
0% |
Eliminates dust. Reduces risk of impaction. More easily chewed by senior animals. |
Potassium (K) transmissions |
Min |
0.9% |
2.1% |
Help regulate osmotic pressure. Also assists with muscle functions and nerve signal. |
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OTHER INTERESTING CHARACTERISTICS |
CHAFFHAYE ALFALFA |
BENEFIT |
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As Fed |
In Dry Form |
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Non-Fiber Carbohydrates (NFC) |
Range |
3.2% to 5.4% |
7.1% to 12.0% |
Consists of starch, fermentation acids and pectin. This is a measure of the energy in feeds. |
Starch |
Range |
0.85% to 1.9% |
1.9% to 4.2% |
A polysaccharide used by the animal as an energy source. |
Non-Structural Carbohydrates (NSC) |
Range |
2.5% to 4.0% |
5.6% to 9.0% |
A measure of easily digestible carbohydrates, usually consisting of sugars and starches. In current lab analyses, this component is further broken down into separate analyses for starch, water soluble carbohydrates and ethanol soluble carbohydrates (see below) |
Water Soluble Carbohydrates (WSC) |
Range |
2.3% to 3.5% |
5.2% to 7.8% |
Simple sugars and fructans. Fructans digest in the large intestine of a horse. Excessive amounts can upset the microbial populations leading to colic or laminitis. |
Ethanol Soluble Carbohydrates (ESC) |
Range |
1.5% to 2.3% |
3.3% to 5.2% |
A subset of WSC that include the sugars that are primarily digested in the small intestines and give a true glycemic response in horses. |
Relative Feed Value (RFV) |
Avg = 100 |
145 to 155 |
145 to 155 |
A measure of the digestibility and intake potential of a feed. RFV is calculated from ADF and NDF. The higher the score, the better the feed for dairy animals. |
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FERMENTATION RESULTS |
CHAFFHAYE ALFALFA |
BENEFIT |
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As Fed |
In Dry Form |
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Lactic Acid |
Min |
3.33% |
7.40% |
The goal of good fermentation is to maximize lactic acid. The more lactic acid, the quicker the fermentation was accomplished, dropping pH, and preserving nutrients. A quick drop in pH reduces protein breakdown and stops unwanted microbial growth. The high level of lactic acid for alfalfa and grass indicate excellent fermentation has been accomplished. |
VFA Score |
Min |
N/A |
9.1 |
The VFA Score is a "Report Card" provided by the independent forage laboratory on the success or failure of the fermentation process on a scale of 1 to 10. A score of 8 or higher is considered "good to excellent". |
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Other Nutritional Considerations
The Biological Response
How an animal’s digestive system utilizes a given feed is termed their “biological response”. A high biological response means your animal is getting more benefit from their feed. With Chaffhaye your animal can achieve one of the highest possible biological responses. Studies involving horses have shown that hay preserved in the same manner as Chaffhaye is significantly more digestible. Digestibility has been shown in increase as follows:- Digestibility of Dry Matter: 57%
- Digestibility of Crude Protein: 144%
- Digestibility of Fiber: 46%