Livestock is a major factor responsible for the growth of the alfalfa hay market in Europe. The European government is focusing on boosting the domestic production of alfalfa hay, in order to meet its high demand. The dairy sector is essentially boosting the demand for alfalfa hay in Europe. Furthermore, there has been immense pressure on the livestock sector to meet the increasing demand for high-value animal protein. The demand for alfalfa hay is increasing significantly and is driven due to changing production practices in the dairy industry. This is essentially due to the increasing number of cows raised by modern dairy farmers who prefer quality feeds.

Alfalfa is one of the most important feed sources for animals worldwide, owing to its nutritional benefits. Alfalfa hay is used, primarily as an animal feed for dairy cows, horses, beef cattle, sheep, chickens, turkeys, and other farm animals. These hays are higher in protein and minerals and are more palatable than grass hays. Alfalfa, in particular, is high in energy and is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals.

It contains between 15 to 22% crude protein as well as an excellent source of a wide range of vitamins and minerals. It has the most feed value of all perennial pasture forages. Due to the high nutritional content of alfalfa, the demand is growing in the market. This rich nutritional content of alfalfa drives the market as the need for the quality feed for animals is increasing. Spain is one of the major producers of alfalfa followed by France.