alfalfa

Alfalfa, also known as lucerne, is a perennial flowering plant in the legume family, Medicago sativa. It is widely grown as forage for cattle, horses, sheep, and goats, valued for its high protein content and deep-rooted vigor. Originating in southwestern Asia, alfalfa has been cultivated for millennia and is now grown worldwide in temperate regions, often as a hay crop or silage. The plant forms a tufted perennial with finely divided, three-leaflet leaves and purple to pink flowers arranged in dense racemes. Its deep taproot enables access to soil moisture and contributes to drought tolerance. Alfalfa fixes atmospheric nitrogen in symbiosis with Rhizobium bacteria, improving soil fertility.

In cultivation, alfalfa prefers well-drained soils with a neutral to mildly alkaline pH and ample sunlight. It is managed as a perennial forage, typically cut multiple times per year in favorable climates, or harvested as seed. In many systems, it is grown in rotations with cereals or as a cover crop. Forage quality depends on harvest stage; younger regrowth yields higher protein and digestibility but lower fiber.

Nutrition and use: Alfalfa forage is rich in crude protein, minerals, and energy compared with many other forages. It is commonly fed as hay, haylage, or silage, and its sprouts are eaten as a vegetable. Potential risks include bloat in ruminants when offered as lush fresh forage or in combination with other high-risk feeds.