Alfalfa is one of the best fodders for livestock and animals. Features and properties that increase nutritional value of fodder are: 1. Palatability. so that livestock and animal have a huge appetite to eat it and even if it consumed freely, cause colic due to high consumption. 2. High energy value; high energy value is 120% to oat fodder. So, feeding 80% alfalfa instead of 100% oats has the same energy value.

Consumption of alfalfa in diets that contain concentrates cause obesity in cattle, sheep and another animal. But diets that contain only fodder or forage, can be consumed freely. For growing animals or lactating cow and pregnant livestock that need high energy and protein requirements, alfalfa should be used as only feed in the fodder component of diets. Protein in alfalfa is high and it ranging 17%-19% under normal condition. So high level of protein in alfalfa can produce energy in animals’ body. Also, alfalfa is also good source of vitamin A,B. and it has vitamin D when exposed to the sun.

The ratio of calcium to phosphorus in alfalfa is 6 to 1, and this ratio should be considered in the nutrition of young and growing animal.

Alfalfa is harvested early, because when the whole field is flowering, its nutritional value is significantly reduced. The number of harvests per fodder depends on the geographical area, the amount of irrigation and so on.

Alfalfa at first harvest time has lower quality and has weeds. Clover and sainfoin are almost identical in nutritional value to alfalfa, and both of them belong to the legume groups. The amount of clover protein varies between 13%- 15%. And also due to its high moisture during storage may cause mold.