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Utilization of Alfalfa Meal and Alfalfa Protein Concentrate by Rats¹

Oregon State University, Corvallis 97331

Abstract

Levels of dehydrated alfalfa meal greater than 60% of the diet reduced the growth rate of rats. Purified cellulose fed to provide the same amount of acid detergent fiber as contributed by the alfalfa did not reduce growth. Feed intake was reduced at high alfalfa levels, but not with high cellulose levels, indicating that fiber level per se was not responsible for the reduced performance. Avoidance of heat during drying of alfalfa meal, through the use of freeze-drying, resulted in improved growth and feed conversion. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that bitter compounds may be formed through caramelization reactions during conventional drying methods. Freeze-dried alfalfa meal caused greater growth depression than oven-dried meal when included in an autoclaved, lactose-containing diet. This is indicative of a favorable effect of freeze-drying in reducing caramelization, since the freeze-dried alfalfa would have a greater content of unreacted constituents that could participate in induced browning reactions. An alfalfa protein concentrate was tested as a protein supplement for rats; it was limiting in lysine and methionine. When these deficiencies were corrected, it was equivalent to soybean meal as a protein supplement.

¹ Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station Technical Paper No. 3853.

² Department of Animal Science.