Alfalfa sprouts and other seed sprouts have been implicated in numerous outbreaks of salmonellosis. The source of these epidemics appears to have been low-level contamination of seeds by Salmonella bacteria that developed into clinically significant populations during the seed germination process. To test the possibility that Salmonella enterica strains carry host range determinants that allow ...

The presence of the enzyme lipoxidase in alfalfa has been reported (3, 5, 6). However, the properties of this postulated alfalfa lipoxidase are quite different from the well known properties of soybean lipoxidase. Strain (5) showed that the alfalfa enzyme acts on oleic and ricinoleic acids, however it is known that soybean lipoxidase acts only on linoleic, linolenic and arachidonic acids. -Mitc...

A variety of measures including Relative Feed Value (RFV), Relative Feed Quality (RFQ) and Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN) have been used to set the value of alfalfa hay for sale. However, components or characteristics of alfalfa in addition to these measures may prove useful in determining the real market and feeding value of alfalfa compared to other feeds.

Two experiments were conducted using 2 ruminally and duodenally fistulated steers to determine the digestibility of undegradable intake protein (UIP) of smooth bromegrass (Bromis inermis), birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus coniculatus L.), and heat-treated alfalfa (Medicago sativa) using the mobile nylon bag technique. Undegradable intake protein was determined using neutral detergent insoluble CP at a ...

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of Aspergillus oryzae fermentation extract on the in vitro equine cecal fermentation of soluble starch, amino acids/peptides, coastal bermudagrass hay, and alfalfa hay. Cecal contents were obtained from a cecally fistulated Quarter Horse gelding fed coastal bermudagrass and grain (70:30) either unadapted or adapted to dietary A. oryzae supp...

This study presents the chemical composition and in vitro fermentation of five diets with different forage (alfalfa) to concentrate (faba bean) (F:C) ratios, F0:C100, F25:C75, F50:C50, F75:C25, F100:C0 on a dry matter (DM) basis. Results indicate that the chemical composition in term of organic matter (OM), ether extract (EE), crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fi...

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is one of the most widely cultivated perennial forage legumes worldwide. Fall dormancy is an adaptive character related to the biomass production and winter survival in alfalfa. The physiological, biochemical and molecular mechanisms causing fall dormancy and the related genes have not been well studied. In this study, we sequenced two standard varieties of alfalfa ...

The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that serum biotin concentration and biotin balance (consumed - [urinary output + fecal output]) measured as total avidin-binding substances (biotin + biotin metabolites) are responsive to changes in the proportions of dietary alfalfa meal and concentrate fed to sheep. Eight sheep (initial BW = 40 kg) consumed a pelleted alfalfa meal-based d...

Roundup-Ready® alfalfa was released in June of 2005, the first trait to be commercialized in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) using biotechnology. Traditional alfalfa varieties will likely be grown in close proximity to these new biotech varieties. While most users will probably not be sensitive to the presence of these varieties, other markets (particularly export and organic) will request hay tha...

A fully developed integrated pest management (IPM) system uses all available strategies for a given pest or pest complex in a cropping system; incorporating host plant resistance, biological, cultural and physical controls and chemical control when necessary (Pedigo, 1999). Several such management strategies have been developed in alfalfa for the potato leafhopper (Empoasca fabae) (PLH). The fi...