Canadian Dehydrators Association - Factsheet: Canadian Processed Alfalfa for Camels

  The use of alfalfa forage in camel diets is preferred in many areas of the world. This preference is based on alfalfa’s high nutrient content, ability when added to diets to improve forage quality, and to be eaten in larger amounts than other forages. This adds up to higher nutrient intakes, increased productivity and health of the animal.
  Both fresh cut alfalfa forage and alfalfa hay are used for feeding camels. The high water content of fresh cut alfalfa restricting intake and availability on a year-round basis is of concern. The waste involved with feeding alfalfa hay is also of concern, particularly where animals are fed supplemental hay on pasture. Feeding Canadian processed alfalfa pellets and cubes overcomes many of these problems.
  In Canada the alfalfa forage is cut at an early and optimal stage of growth and processed into pellets and cubes. With dehydrated alfalfa pellets, fresh alfalfa is dried by adding heat and in a matter of hours is in the form of a pellet, capturing the nutrient and, particularly, the vitamin content of freshly cut alfalfa. In the drying process the protein is made less soluble and for ruminants such as camels this means the protein will be used more efficiently.
  Alfalfa pellets and cubes are easily handled, transported and have minimal waste in feeding because of their form. The nutrient content of alfalfa pellets and cubes are given in Table 1 (over) and shows their high nutrient content.

Diets for Gestating and Lactating Camels
Dehy alfalfa pellets and cubes can be used to Improve forage quality for maintaining breeding stock. Rhodus grass and other poorer quality grass hays usually require supplementation to improve forage quality. Alfalfa pellets and cubes can be effectively used for these purposes. In addition, for lactating animals, alfalfa pellets and cubes improve forage quality, and provide more nutrient intake by not only being higher in nutrients but by helping to maximize feed intake.
For animals being kept for milk production, this advantage means higher milk production. The high carotene content of alfalfa products, particularly dehy alfalfa pellets, provides a natural source of Vitamin A.

For lactating and gestating camel diets, dehy alfalfa pellets can make up to 40% of the total forage fed.

Alfalfa cubes with their longer fibre length can replace higher levels of forage in instances where greater improvement of forage quality is needed and a very low quality forage is being fed. Levels of up to 75% of the total forage fed can be replaced by alfalfa cubes.

Diets for Racing Camels
The diets for racing camels are high in nutrient density making them a natural for use of alfalfa as their principal forage source. In using fresh cut alfalfa availability is a problem and as well, the high moisture content may restrict the amount able to be fed. The use of a dry alfalfa forage source such as pellets or cubes would still allow the use of a limited amount of fresh alfalfa. The pellets and cubes would replace more of the poorer quality grass hay such as rhodus grass, providing higher total nutrient intake and performance.

For racing camels, dehy alfalfa pellets can replace up to 40% of the total forage in the diet. With their longer fiber length, alfalfa cubes can provide up to 75% of the total forage.

Canadian processed alfalfa products, pellets and cubes are a high nutrient density forage source. They are palatable and readily consumed by camels. There is minimal waste in feeding and they are easily handled making their use cost effective over other forms of forage.

prepared by:
Vern J. Racz
Feed Resource Centre
Department of Animal and Poultry Science
University of Saskatchewan

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