190 FEEDS AND FEEDING 



Pfeiffer have shown 14 that peat has no nutritive value for farm animals, 

 and the. undecomposed moss can likewise have but small worth, tho arctic 

 life subsists on it to some extent. Practically the only nutriment in this 

 feed is in the molasses it contains, and at the prices usually asked, mo- 

 lasses can be purchased much cheaper alone than in molassine meal. 

 Hills 15 found the molasses in a ton of this meal worth only $25, while the 

 feed sold for $39 per ton. Lindsey and Smith 16 of the Massachusetts 

 Station found molassine meal decidedly inferior to corn meal for cows. 



282. Sugar. Tho the nutritive value of sugar is no greater than that 

 of an equal weight of starch, the great fondness for it shown by farm 

 animals makes it helpful in some cases for stimulating the appetite. (484) 

 A small allowance is often used in fitting animals for shows. 



283. Dried distillers' grains. In the manufacture of alcohol and dis- 

 tilled liquors from cereals, the corn, rye, etc., after being ground, are 

 treated with a solution of malt to convert the starch into sugar, which 

 is next converted into alcohol by the action of yeast. This is distilled 

 off, leaving a watery residue, known as distillers' slops, or slump. For- 

 merly the slump was fed to fattening steers at the distillery; now the 

 solid matter is usually strained out and dried in vacuum, forming dried 

 distillers' grains, or distillers' dried grains, which are sold as such or 

 under various proprietary names. This by-product consists of the por- 

 tions of the grains not acted upon during the fermentation process, i. e., 

 the crude protein, fiber, fat, and the more insoluble part of the nitrogen- 

 free extract. Distillers' grains from corn contain from 28 to 32 per ct. 

 crude protein and are about equal to gluten feed in feeding value. Dried 

 grains chiefly from rye are of considerably lower value, carrying only 

 about 23 per ct. protein. Not being especially palatable, distillers' grains 

 should be mixed with other concentrates. This rather bulky feed is one 

 of the best high-protein concentrates for dairy cows, from 2 to 4 Ibs. per 

 head daily being usually fed. (605) Distillers' grains may also be used 

 with good results as part of the ration for fattening steers and sheep. 

 (758, 856) A large allowance of the grains is usually not relished by 

 horses, but they may constitute one-fourth the concentrate allowance 

 for these animals. (491) On account of their bulkiness they should not 

 be fed in large amounts to pigs. (981) 



284. Yeast and vinegar grains. Dried yeast grains and vinegar grains 

 are by-products from the manufacture of yeast and malt vinegar. They 

 are similar to dried brewers' grains in appearance and composition, 

 but are somewhat lower in protein and higher in fiber and hence of lower 

 feeding value. 



285. Acorns. In some portions of the South and in California, acorns, 

 the fruit, or nut, of the oak, Quercus spp., are of importance in swine 

 feeding, the pigs usually being allowed to forage upon the scattered nuts. 

 Acorns may be used for other stock in limited amounts. Poisoning has 

 been reported where stock ate damaged acorns or too large amounts. 



"Ernahr. landw. Nutziere, 1907, p. 369. "Vt. Bui. 171. "Mass. Bui. 158. 



