866 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



with a full feed of molasses (3.1 qt. per head) made an average daily gain in a 

 70-day period of 1.71 lbs. at a cost of 10.05 cts. per pound. Similar animiils fed 

 the same grain ration but no molasses made iin average daily gain of 1.27 His. 

 per head at a cost of 11.3 cts. per pound. 



In the second test cotton-seed hulls, cotton-seed meal, and corn chop, supple- 

 mented by large and small amounts of molasses, were compared with cotton- 

 seed hulls, cotton-seed meal, and corn chop alone, corn chop being added to the 

 rations in the second and third periods. In the last 44 days of the test, which 

 as a whole covered 100 days, alfalfa hay was fed to all the lots in addition to the 

 other feeds and a little molasses was given to the lot which had pre\ionsly 

 received none. The gains ranged from 1.92 lbs. per head per day in the case 

 of the lot which had received no molasses throughout the greater part of the 

 test to 2.71 lbs. with the lot receiving the full molasses ration. The gain was 

 most cheaply made with the latter lot, costing 4.95 cts. per pound, and was 

 most expensive with the former lot, costing 5.55 cts. per pound. 



In a third test feeding molasses from a trough to cattle on grass was 

 studied with 2 lots of 10 steers each. They were given similar rations of cotton- 

 seed hulls, cotton-seed meal, and alfalfa hay. The lot fed molasses ad libitum 

 from a trough was given less corn chop than the other lot. When fully 

 accustomed to the molasses 12 lbs. per head per day were eaten on an average. 

 " Some steers seemed especially fond of the molasses and ate it in such large 

 quantities as to cause them to scour." On the molasses ration the average daily 

 gain in the CO days of the test was 1.14 lbs. and the cost of a pound of gain 

 13 cts., as compared with 0.97 lb. at a cost of 12.7 cts. with the lot fed practically 

 no molasses for comparison. " This is the only experience we have had with the 

 system of feeding clear molasses separatel.v." 



A test with 3 lots of 10 pigs each is briefly reported in which corn chops 

 alone and with cotton-seed meal and cotton-seed meal and molasses were com- 

 pared. On the corn chops alone the average daily gain was 0.51 lb. per pig 

 and the cost of a pound of gain 8.14 cts. On corn chops and cotton-seed meal 

 2:1 the average daily gain during the same period was O.OO lb. and the cost of 

 a pound of gain 7 cts. On a similar grain raticm with molasses added the 

 average daily gain in 43 days was 0.82 lb. per head and the cost of a pound of 

 gain G.32 cts. 



Data on the use of molasses as a horse feed are also sunnuarized. 



The ct)nclusions which were drawn regarding the feeding of molasses were 

 in effect as follows: In the tests reported the addition of molasses to a fat- 

 tening ration for cattle always produced an increased gain and adding molasses 

 to a ration of cotton-seed meal and hulls diminished the cost of gain. AVhen 

 molasses was added to a balanced ration, though the cost was not decreased, 

 larger gains were noted and the appearance of the cattle was improved. No im- 

 desirable results were noted when yearling steers were fed a gallon of molasses 

 per head per day, and there is good reason to believe that larger amounts might 

 be used. Molasses returned from 3 to 30 cts. per gallon, the lower value being 

 obtained when it was added to a well-balanced ration and the higher value 

 when it was added to a ration which in the early part of the feeding period 

 was not well balanced. 



Rough rice for steer feeding was also studied with 3 lots of 5 animals each, 

 the basal ration consisting of cotton-seed hulls, cotton-seed meal, and alfalfa 

 hay. On the basal ration alone the average daily gain per head, in the 70 days 

 covered by the test, was 1.36 lbs. and the cost of a pound of gain 5.9 cts. When 

 the larger quantities of whole and ground rice were fed the average daily gain 

 was 1.4 lbs. per head and the cost 9.01 cts., and with the smaller ration of whole 

 and ground rice the values were 1.52 lbs. and 7.15 cts. 



