Lucerne, often known as alfalfa (Medicago sativa), is a very nutritious leguminous feed used extensively in chicken production. It is high in protein, vitamins, and minerals and is a good supplement for chicken diets, providing nutritional and economic benefits. Poultry farmers throughout the world are increasingly turning to lucerne to increase flock health and feed efficiency and reduce production costs. Lucerne is a versatile feed choice that promotes optimal chicken growth and productivity. It can be fed fresh, dried, or processed into meal or pellets.
The high protein content of lucerne, which is crucial for the growth and development of birds, is one of the main advantages of using it in poultry production. Lucerne is a great supplement for layers and broilers since it contains 15% to 20% crude protein. Egg production, muscular growth, and general health all depend on protein. By adding lucerne as an extra protein source to poultry diets, costly commercial feeds are not as necessary. Furthermore, lucerne is abundant in lysine and methionine, two important amino acids that are critical for the development of feathers and eggs.
Vitamins and minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, vitamin K, and vitamin A are also abundant in lucerne. For poultry to have healthy skin, eyesight, and a strong immune system, vitamin A is necessary. Vitamin K is essential for bone health and blood coagulation, which helps birds avoid leg problems. Strong eggshell development in laying hens is dependent on calcium and phosphorus, which lowers the likelihood of weak or brittle shells. Because of its rich mineral concentration, lucerne helps chickens stay healthy overall by lowering their risk of deficiencies, which can result in stunted growth and decreased egg production.
The beneficial effects of lucerne on digestion provide an additional benefit in the production of poultry. Because of its high fiber content, lucerne promotes intestinal health and increases feed efficiency. By regulating digestion, the fiber content helps avoid problems like pasty vent and intestinal obstructions. Additionally, it encourages good gut flora, which improves immunity and nutrient absorption. Poultry that are fed lucerne may have healthier digestive systems, which will improve feed conversion rates and boost output.
In hens that lay eggs, lucerne also naturally improves the color of the yolk. Lucerne helps produce bright golden-yellow yolks, which are quite popular with customers, because of its high quantities egg carotenoids, especially beta-carotene. Because of this natural pigmentation impact, eggs become more enticing and nutrient-dense without the need for artificial yolk color additions. Furthermore, beta-carotene is a potent antioxidant that boosts immunity and enhances general bird health.
For poultry producers, lucerne is an affordable feed choice. It lessens reliance on pricey commercial feeds because it may be grown on-farm or purchased locally. Additionally resistant to drought, lucerne is a dependable and sustainable feed supply in areas with erratic weather patterns. By incorporating lucerne into their feeding regimens, farmers can reduce production expenses without sacrificing the quality of their chicken products.
Fresh, dried, fermented, or in the form of meal and pellets, lucerne’s adaptability enables it to be given to chickens in a variety of ways. You can chop fresh lucerne and feed it as green fodder, or you can combine dried lucerne with other feed ingredients. In order to provide birds with a balanced diet, commercial poultry feeds frequently contain lucerne meal and pellets. Because of its adaptability, farmers can easily integrate lucerne into their systems for raising poultry.
All things considered, lucerne is a very advantageous feed component for chicken farming. It is a great addition to poultry diets because of its high protein content, rich vitamin and mineral profile, beneficial effects on digestion, inherent yolk-enhancing qualities, and affordability. Poultry farmers may maintain high-quality poultry and egg production while improving productivity, lowering feeding costs, and improving bird health by incorporating lucerne into their feeding plans.
