Alfalfa or tall fescue: which forage for which operation?

Note: This English content is pending editorial review.

Alfalfa and tall fescue are both valuable forages — but they serve different roles in the ration. The question is rarely “either/or”; it is usually “in what ratio”.

Alfalfa: the protein

Alfalfa is the protein source among forages. Leafy and cut early, it delivers high crude protein, calcium and good digestibility — ideal for animals with high requirements: high-yielding dairy cows, young stock, pregnant and lactating animals.

The point to keep in mind: alfalfa is leaf-heavy and lower in structure. A ration built on alfalfa alone can offer too little of the structure ruminants need.

Tall fescue: the structure

Tall fescue (Festuca) is a robust grass with high yield and good structural effect. It brings the crude fibre the rumen needs for stable digestion and fills out the ration cost-effectively without pushing the protein level up.

As a forage, tall fescue provides volume and a stable rumen pH — the base on which the protein supply from alfalfa builds.

Why the combination usually wins

A good ruminant ration lives on the balance between protein and structure:

• Too much protein and too little structure → risk of digestive disorders.
• Too much structure and too little protein → limited performance.

That is why the two complement each other: alfalfa brings protein and energy, tall fescue brings structure and volume. The right ratio depends on the animal type — dairy, beef or young stock.

Rules of thumb by operation

• High-yielding dairy operations: a higher alfalfa share for the protein supply, with tall fescue as the structural base.
• Beef and young stock: a more even ratio, with tall fescue as the cost-effective base forage.
• Structure-poor rations: use tall fescue deliberately to safeguard rumen-friendly structure.

In brief

• Alfalfa = protein, tall fescue = structure.
• The combination balances the ration — the ratio follows the animal type.

Tell us which animals you feed and how your ration is built — we’ll help you set the right ratio and supply both forages from a single source.