Alfalfa Grazing Tips for Better Livestock Nutrition

By Scout Nelson

Alfalfa is a valuable forage crop that provides livestock with high levels of crude protein and digestible nutrients. While many farmers grow alfalfa for hay, it can also be used for grazing when managed carefully. Adding alfalfa to a grazing plan can help extend the grazing season, improve animal nutrition, and reduce feed costs. However, farmers must consider the risk of frothy bloats and protect the long-term health of their alfalfa stands.

Kim Ricardo, SDSU Extension Forage Field Specialist, highlighted important factors farmers should consider when adding alfalfa to their grazing plans. These include the crop's nutritional value, livestock health, grazing timing, and practices that help plants recover after grazing.

Nutritional Benefits of Alfalfa

Alfalfa is a rich source of protein and other nutrients that support livestock growth and performance. It can be especially useful for growing calves, first-calf heifers, and lactating cows, which often need more nutrients than other animals. In South Dakota and other farming regions, alfalfa can also provide an economical source of feed.

However, alfalfa's nutritional value changes as the plant grows. Young plants usually have higher quality and digestibility, while mature plants contain more fiber and become less digestible. Farmers must balance the need for high-quality forage with the need to allow plants enough time to grow and recover.

Grazing alfalfa too early or too heavily can weaken plants by reducing the energy stored in their roots. This can slow regrowth and reduce the productivity of the stand over time. Proper grazing timing helps provide nutritious feed while keeping plants healthy.

Reducing the Risk of Frothy Bloat

Frothy bloat is one of the main concerns when cattle graze alfalfa. It can occur when gas becomes trapped in foam inside the animal's rumen, causing the stomach to swell. In severe cases, bloat can become life-threatening.

The risk is often highest when cattle eat large amounts of young, leafy alfalfa. Wet plants following rain or heavy dew can also increase the risk. Even so, farmers can use several practices to reduce the chance of bloat.

Before turning cattle onto alfalfa, provide dry hay or another suitable forage source. This helps prevent hungry animals from eating too much alfalfa too quickly. Farmers should also watch how cattle graze and avoid sudden changes in their diets.

Allowing cattle to graze fully dry alfalfa at the late bloom stage can lower bloat risk because mature plants contain more fiber and lignin. These materials slow digestion in the rumen. However, late-bloom alfalfa has lower nutritional value than younger plants, so farmers must balance safety with feed quality.

Growing calves may face a greater risk of bloat than mature cows. Farmers should monitor younger animals closely and seek veterinary advice when planning alfalfa grazing.

Alfalfa's high protein content also deserves attention when managing breeding cows. Excess protein can increase the energy needed to process nutrients, potentially affecting the cow's energy balance and reproductive performance. Balanced diets are important, especially before breeding.

Protecting Alfalfa Stands Through Grazing Management

Good grazing management helps maintain productive alfalfa stands. Rotational grazing divides a field into smaller sections, allowing livestock to graze one area while other sections rest. Strip grazing can provide similar control by moving cattle through narrow sections of forage.

Rest periods allow plants to rebuild root reserves and produce new growth. Farmers should also leave enough plant material after grazing rather than allowing cattle to eat plants down to the soil surface. This supports recovery and helps protect long-term forage production.

Stand age is another important factor. Older alfalfa fields that are due for replacement may be suitable for a trial grazing period because farmers have less to lose if grazing reduces their remaining productivity. Younger stands generally need more careful management to protect future yields.

Making Alfalfa Grazing Successful

Alfalfa can be a useful addition to livestock grazing systems when farmers plan carefully. They should consider plant maturity, weather conditions, livestock needs, bloat risk, and the time required for regrowth.

Providing other forage before turnout, monitoring cattle, using rotational grazing, and allowing enough recovery time can help farmers make better use of alfalfa. With proper management, this nutritious crop can support livestock performance while helping maintain healthy forage stands over time.

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