Dehy Information

It starts with the most nutritious plant used in the feed industry alfalfa. Each plant is a virtual factory of vitamins, minerals, high quality protein and unidentified factors.

When alfalfa reaches less than 1/10 bloom stage, its at its peak value. That is when the forage harvesters cut alfalfa, retaining practically all the leaves.

At the dehy plant, the chopped alfalfa is whished through the dehydrating drum, often in a matter of seconds. The flash heat and high volume of moving air remove over 90% of the moisture without burning any part of the plant. This almost instantaneous drying preserves nearly all of the original nutrients in growing plants, leaving a concentrated form of nature-rich alfalfa.

The subsequent grinding and pelleting results in a product that is as easy to elevate, store and blend as grain.

BENEFITS

Why feed alfalfa dehy?

It’s the best nutritional package you can put into the rations you’re feeding your livestock, dairy cattle, poultry or small animals. Dehydrated alfalfa contains a blend of 47 nutritional elements one of nature’s most liberal balances of vitamins, minerals and amino acids.

And then consider the fringe benefits alfalfa dehy gives you in form of unidentified factors. No one knows for sure what they are, but their activity has been proven both in the laboratory and the feedlot.

The unidentified growth factor (UGF) is best described by this researchers typical statement: alfalfa dehy contains some unknown factor and/or factors which stimulate gain and improve the utilization of feed. A health factor just seems to make my cattle do better, in the words of one feeder. The reproductive factor improves the number of pigs farrowed and weaned and milk production by sows, especially those in confinement. An animal appeal factor makes feed more attractive to livestock when alfalfa dehy makes up at least 5% of their rations.

Here are just a few of the many reasons you’ll find alfalfa dehy can mean more profit for you:

Nutrient Retention– There’s no loss of nutrients from field to feeder. The vital nutrients are in the alfalfa plants leaves, all of which end up in the dehy pellet.

Supplement low nutrient forages – Nothing seems to supplement low nutrient forages quite as well as dehydrated alfalfa with its protein, Vitamin A equivalent and minerals. This lets you make use of low nutrient hay without sacrificing production.

Easy Handling– Whether you buy all your feed ready-made or do you own mixing, you’ll like the form in which dehy comes. It handles easily and its almost entirely dust free.

Guaranteed Protein– When you buy dehy you know the minimum amount of protein youre adding to the ration. The amount is guaranteed to be no less than 15%, 17%, 20% or 22% depending on which grade you buy. This gives you more facts with which to work and takes one more gamble out of your operation.

Analysis Available – Do you want to know precisely how much of the amino acid lysine is in the dehy you’re feeding or the ppm of niacin or the crude protein degestation coefficient? Detailed assays are available.

Stimulates milk production – Alfalfa dehy stimulates milk production and secretion by all types of animals. While this is important for milking dairy herds, it’s also vital to all types of breeding animals beef cows, sows, ewes, mares, etc. An example is obtaining heavy calves at weaning. The milking ability of your beef cows has more effect on weaning weights than any other factor, even genetics. Surprising, yes, but backed by research. Livestock men have pointed to better general health of all mature animals when their ration has included alfalfa dehy.

Adds to high energy rations – You’re probably feeding hotter rations today than you were 10 years ago, no matter what type of finishing or dairy program you’re on. The many factors in alfalfa dehy produce an even greater response in these higher energy feeds. This results in more meat or milk per pound of grain fed.

Health benefits at calving– Right after birth is a critical time in the lives of you pigs, lambs or calves. You can help them thrive from birth through weaning by making sure their dams receive alfalfa dehy. This pays the premium on their health insurance.

Improves ration utilization – Adding alfalfa dehy to rations improves the utilization of the entire ration. Another way dehy aids efficiency is in promoting earlier rumen development in cattle and sheep. The sooner their rumens are geared up, the faster they’ll grow. Remember this particularly if youre considering creep-feeding to add some early pounds.

Pigmentation – For poultry, alfalfa dehy is the lowest cost contributor to effective pigmentation for broilers and for egg yolks. It is a proven source of reproductive factors for chickens, turkeys, ducks, etc. It increases total utilization of modern rations and helps to build resistance to common health problems.

Low cost– Finally, and no doubt of greatest importance to you, alfalfa dehy is priced lower than any other feed ingredient of comparable nutritional value.

Dehy Alfalfa Mills offers some of the best alfalfa in the country touting 17% protein alfalfa pellets and pellet meal.