By-Products 160 



from the mill. Most of it goes into huge lumber-lined 

 earthj silos six to ten feet deep, where it ferments into 

 the pulp that is ordinarily fed. An increasing number of 

 factories is being eciuippod with drying plants into which 

 the pulp goes after a part of the water is expressed by 

 pressure. In a few minutes the pulp is reduced to a mois- 

 ture-content of about 10 per cent, after which it is sacked 

 for shipment, or is mixed with molasses before being sent 

 to market. 



By drying pulp, the loss due to fermentation is avoided 

 and a concentrated feed is made. About 5 to 6 per cent 

 of the original weight of the beets is recovered in drying. 

 Dried pulp is somewhat similar to corn or to cornmeal 

 in composition and in feeding value. In this form it is 

 worth about ten times as much as the fresh pulp and 

 about eight times as much as the siloed pulp. 



Uses of beet pulp. 



It is often necessary to starve stock for a few days in 

 order to induce them to eat siloed pulp for the first time ; 

 but once they acquire the taste for it, all classes of live- 

 stock eat it readily. Although siloing gives to pulp a dis- 

 agreeable odor, it is a better feed after fermentation than 

 before. The value of pulp lies not only in its succulent 

 nature, as with corn silage, but it also has a desirable 

 hygienic effect. Brood animals and dairy cattle are es- 

 pecially benefited by the laxative properties of the pulp. 

 It has a stimulating effect on the digestion of all animals 

 and enables them to make the most of their feed. Wet 

 pulp is almost an ideal feed in sections where alfalfa forms 

 the roughage part of the ration. Where grain can be ob- 



