106 THE SCIENTIFIC FEEDING OF ANIMALS 



per cent free acetic acid and about an equal amount of lactic acid. These 

 slops are very watery (96 per cent water) and are therefore very sub- 

 ject to decomposition. 



Uses. — Distillery slops are fed to fattening cattle in quantities up to 

 15 gallons per day, milk cows and working oxen 7y2 to 12)^ gallons, 

 fattening swine and sheep about 2 to 3 quarts. These slops are rarely 

 fed to horses, except possibly to working horses at rest, 10 to 15 quarts 

 per day. It is best not to feed these slops at all to young stock or to 

 pregnant animals. When fed at all it is best to have them perfectly 

 fresh and if possible still warm. Slops that have become cold should be 

 reheated before feeding. Feeding troughs must be kept scrupulously 

 clean, because any material that may be left decomposes rapidly and 

 may then become injurious to health. On account of the acidity of slops 

 and their deficiency in lime salts, from 1 to 2 ounces of prepared chalk 

 should be added to the daily ration. In addition to this, care should 

 be observed that sufficient roughage (10 to 12 pounds per day) is given, 

 to counteract the debilitating effects of the slops on the digestive organs 

 and to supply the proper amount of volume in dry matter. 



Disadvantages. — Excessive quantities of slops, 25 to 35 gallons per 

 day, have an unfavorable effect upon the milk secretion as well as on 

 the quality of the meat and fat. In cattle they are frequent causes of 

 indigestion, diarrhea, "slop cough" and eczema. In horses they cause 

 colic, in pregnant animals abortion, and in sheep malignant jaundice. 



"Slop eczema" is observed following liberal feeding of potato slop, 

 raw potatoes, potato tops and waste products of starch factories. It is 

 a moist form of eczema attacking chiefly the hind feet and legs below 

 the hock (Johne). These objectionable features of slop feeding may 

 easily be avoided by the conscientious observation of strict cleanliness 

 and moderation in feeding. Serious disease has been observed to follow 

 the feeding of slops that were made from spoiled, rotten, or badly 

 sprouted potatoes. Slops rich in alcohol may cause serious and even 

 fatal alcoholic poisoning. 



Rye and corn slops are richer in organic matter (protein, fat and 

 nitrogen-free extract) and contain less mineral matter than the foregoing. 

 It is not advisable to feed more than 7^ to 12^ quarts of corn slop 

 per day to milk cows, because larger quantities produce soft butter. 

 The seeds of corn cockle, already referred to in the previous pages, are 

 a frequent contamination of rye, and, when present, will exert their pois- 

 onous effects in the slops made from this grain. 



Sugar Refinery slops have a bitter, acid taste and are not relished by 

 animals. On account of their high salt content they are liable to cause 

 diarrhea. These objections may be partly overcome, however, by digest- 

 ing these slops with twice their volume of potatoes, the addition of pre- 

 pared chalk and liberal quantities of roughage, hay or straw. Fattening 

 cattle are really the only class of animals that should have this material. 



To give them keeping qualities these various slops are sometimes 



