Alfalfa

Farmers grow alfalfa as livestock forage. It is a crop, rather than a processing leftover. Some of the cut leaves and stems are dried and ground into meal that feed makers can weigh into recipes.⁴

1. 01 // Source Leafy forage Farmers cut the leaves and stems above the ground, leaving the plant to regrow.
2. 02 // Process Wilt and chop Cut alfalfa loses moisture in the field and is chopped before it reaches a dehydration plant.
3. 03 // Process Dry and grind The plant dries the chopped forage, then grinds it into meal instead of leaving long stems.
4. 04 // Output Alfalfa meal The dried leaf and stem mixture arrives at the food plant as a ground feed ingredient.

1. 01

   Adds forage fiber

   Ground leaves and stems add plant cell walls to the recipe. A controlled dog trial included alfalfa in a fiber blend, but could not isolate its effect on stool or digestion.^1,3

2. 02

   Contributes some calcium

   Dehydrated alfalfa contains calcium, though an ingredient list gives no amount for the finished food. The recipe's full mineral balance matters more than this ingredient alone.^3,6

3. 03

   Draws on forage supply

   Alfalfa is already grown, dried and ground for livestock feed. Pet food makers can obtain meal through that existing supply without creating a separate crop.⁴

How much A controlled dog diet contained 1.5% dehydrated alfalfa meal alongside other fibers and a probiotic; it did not test alfalfa alone.¹

1. Brands say

   Alfalfa adds fiber to dog food

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   Dehydrated alfalfa averages 28.6% crude fiber on a dry basis. One controlled dog diet included 1.5% alfalfa among other fibers. The fiber contribution is real; that arithmetic does not show a special gut benefit.^1,3

2. Brands say

   Alfalfa gives dogs antioxidant protection

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   A 60-animal raccoon dog trial found changes in blood antioxidant markers after alfalfa feeding. It measured no health benefit. Raccoon dogs are a different species, and the result does not show protection in pet dogs.²

3. Brands say

   Alfalfa improves a dog's digestion

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   At 5%, alfalfa did not improve nutrient digestibility in raccoon dogs. A 12-dog trial used it within a fiber and probiotic blend and found lower dry matter digestibility. Neither trial supports better digestion from alfalfa.^1,2

4. Critics say

   Alfalfa is just filler

   Outruns the evidence

   Evidence

   1. Strong
   2. Some
   3. Thin
   4. None

   Dehydrated alfalfa averages 28.6% crude fiber and contains calcium, so it contributes something measurable. Its amount in a particular food is undisclosed; the ingredient name alone cannot show how much it contributes.^3,6