Forage quality, to a large extent, determines productivity and economic return to milk production. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) has long been considered an excellent forage and is widely used in many US regions as one of the primary forages fed to lactating dairy cows. However, alfalfa is expensive to grow and not well suited to all regions because of its susceptibility to diseases, insects, poor soil drainage, and weather conditions (Nelson et al., 1986). This is especially true in the Southeast, where the majority of the alfalfa fed is imported from other regions, resulting in a higher ration cost per kilogram of DM.