Lucerne Hay

A Premium Feed for Livestock

Lucerne hay, also known as alfalfa in some countries, is one of the most popular types of hay used in Australia. It’s widely known for its high nutritional value, low Neutral Detergent Fibre (NDF), and excellent palatability, making it particularly beneficial for the equine industry, dairy cattle, and beef cattle, with some use for sheep and high-value goats.

Due to its excellent feed quality, lucerne hay often commands a higher price in the hay market, with FCAA quality hay ranging between $180 and $650, depending on factors such as demand, location, and nutritional quality.

What is Lucerne Hay?

Lucerne hay is a perennial legume crop that is typically grown for hay but can also be used as a forage crop when animals are allowed to graze the fresh plants before the hay is cut and baled. Lucerne is traditionally harvested at its early flowering stage, which ensures the hay is at its nutritional peak.

Lucerne is known for its ability to be cut multiple times throughout the season, with each cut offering slightly different characteristics. It is cultivated in various regions across Australia, and the method of cultivation - whether dryland or irrigated - can significantly impact the quality of the hay.

Dryland vs. Irrigated Lucerne Hay

1. Dryland Lucerne: Grown without supplementary irrigation, this type of Lucerne is often more opportunistic. The first cut may contain weeds and stubble, but subsequent cuts are typically cleaner and higher in quality. Dryland Lucerne hay is often used for silage on local farms.

1. Irrigated Lucerne: This variety typically offers higher quality hay with little to no weeds or foreign material. Irrigated Lucerne benefits from better control over curing times, resulting in hay with optimal nutrient retention and superior quality, although some foreign material like wool may be present if the field was grazed before cutting.

Nutritional Value of Lucerne Hay: NDF, CP, ME

1. Crude Protein (CP): Lucerne hay is prized for its high protein content, which typically ranges from 15% to 25% or more on a dry matter basis. The protein content is highest when harvested at early flowering, making it ideal for livestock during growth or lactation phases.

1. Neutral Detergent Fibre (NDF): The NDF in lucerne hay typically ranges from 30% to 60%, depending on the cutting time and plant maturity. Lower NDF means more digestible fibre, making lucerne hay an excellent choice for promoting healthy digestion and overall animal health.

1. Metabolizable Energy (ME): Lucerne hay is high in energy, with ME ranging from 5% to 10.8%, and often achieving desirable levels of over 9%. This high energy content is crucial for livestock in need of extra calories for growth, lactation, or increased nutritional demands.

Visual Quality and Grading

Lucerne hay is often highly regarded for its visual appeal, which is one reason it’s so widely sought after. High-quality lucerne hay should be:

1. Bright green to golden in colour - the greener the hay, the higher the nutritional quality, but some weather damage is to be expected.

1. Soft, with good leaf retention - Lucerne with thinner stems and better leaf retention tends to be more palatable for livestock.

1. Free from foreign materials - such as weeds, sticks, or stubble, which can reduce the hay’s quality and increase waste.

Low-quality lucerne hay may show signs of discoloration, rough texture, or higher levels of foreign material, which can lead to reduced feed value and lower palatability.

Agricultural and Environmental Impact

Lucerne is an environmentally sustainable crop, particularly due to its ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen into a form that plants can use. This process enhances soil fertility and reduces the need for synthetic nitrogen fertilizers. Lucerne hay is often grown as part of crop rotation systems or used as a soil conditioner between cereal production cycles.

In addition to its soil benefits, lucerne hay is a key forage crop for livestock during the spring and summer months, providing an important nutritional source during these seasons.

Frequently Asked Questions about Lucerne Hay

Q. What is a normal level of Neutral Detergent Fibre (NDF) for Lucerne Hay?

A. Lucerne hay for sale typically has an NDF range between 30% and 60%, depending on the maturity and harvesting conditions.

Q. What is the usual range in Crude Protein for Lucerne?

A. The protein content of lucerne hay ranges between 7% and 27%, with higher protein levels found in earlier cuts before the plant goes to seed.

Q. How is the Crude Protein affected by harvest maturity?

A. Lucerne hay has its highest protein content during early flowering (17%-27%). As the plant matures and begins to set seed, the protein content decreases to around 10%-16%.

Q. What maturity is ideal to maximise the ME for Lucerne hay?

A. To achieve the highest metabolizable energy (ME), lucerne hay should be harvested at an early stage of maturity, just before or during early flowering, when the energy is concentrated in the leaves and stems.

Q. Does the colour affect the nutritional value in weather-damaged Lucerne?

A. Weather damage, such as prolonged exposure to moisture, can affect the colour of lucerne hay and may reduce the crude protein content. However, even discoloured lucerne hay can still retain reasonable levels of protein.