SUGAR FACTORY FEEDS AND OIL MEALS 193 



Cane molasses (black-strap molasses) differs from beet molasses 

 mainly in the composition of the non-nitrogenous constituents and 

 in its smaller protein and ash contents. Unlike beet molasses, it 

 has a sweet taste and is greatly relished by farm animals. It is fed 

 largely in the South to horses, mules, and fattening steers. Ac- 

 cording to the Louisiana, station, 3 horses and mules on many sugar 

 plantations in the State are fed a^ much as 10 pounds black- 

 strap daily, per head, with excellent results, both as to the cost of 

 the ration and its effect on the health of the animals and their 

 working capacity. The Massachusetts station found that one gal- 

 lon (12 pounds) of molasses makes a good carbohydrate feed for 

 horses; a similar amount may be fed to fattening steers as a 

 maximum allowance. In case of both classes of animals an average 

 allowance of two or three pounds per head daily is, however, to 

 be recommended. 4 



Cane molasses is especially valuable on account of ita high sugar 

 content and its palatability ; it serves a useful purpose as an appe- 

 tizer and for utilizing low-grade materials for stock feeding. In 

 feeding cane molasses it is generally mixed with three or four times 

 its proportion of warm water and sprinkled on the hay, cut straw, or 

 other roughage. It is often used for preparing animals for shows 

 and sales, as it gives them a thrifty appearance and a smooth, 

 shiny coat. It should be fed only in moderate^ amounts to 

 breeding animals. 



Beet pulp is obtained in large quantities as a by-product at beet- 

 sugar factories. The carefully-cleaned beets are cut into thin, V- 

 shaped sections, and the sugar contained therein is extracted by the 

 so-called diffusion process by treatment with warm water in a 

 battery of especially-constructed diffusion cells. The juice thus 

 obtained is purified with lime and sulfur dioxide and evaporated 

 until the sugar begins to crystallize out. Molasses is obtained as 

 a residue after the crystallizable sugar (sucrose) has been removed 

 so far as possible. The extracted beet pulp, as it comes from the 

 diffusion cells, contains 80 to over 90 per cent water and only a 

 small amount of sugar (1 to 2 per cent). It is, however, relatively 

 high in other carbohydrates, and has been found to have about the 

 same feeding value as beets, per unit of dry matter contained in 

 both. Its feeding value may be considered one-half that of corn 

 silage. The Colorado station found that two tons of pulp are equiva- 

 lent to one ton of roots in feeding value; this confirms the result 



s Bulletin 86. 



4 Texas Bui. 97; see also Mass. Bui. 118, 168; Cir. 48; Ext. Cir. 9.' 

 13 



