1913.] PUBLIC DOCOIENT — No. 31. 61 



DigestihiUlij of Molasses. 

 It can be assumed with safety that molasses, being soluble 

 in water, is easily digested and assimilated when fed in reason- 

 able amounts. If fed in excess it is. likely to affect adversely 

 the heart and kidneys and to appear undigested in the urine. 



Effect of Molasses on Diyestibility. 

 As a result of numerous experiments it may be stated (a) 

 that while molasses is completely digested, it does not improve 

 the digestibility of the fcedstuffs with which it is fed, but 

 actually causes them to be less digestible (the average being 

 8 per cent.), and (h) that the addition of molasses to a ration 

 slightly lessens the digestibility of the entire mixture. Only 

 when 20 per cent, or more of molasses is added to a ration is 

 the digestibility of the mixture slightly increased above the 

 digestibility of the same ration fed without molasses. It is 

 not advisable, as a rule, to feed a ration containing over 15 per 

 cent, of molasses, so that nnder ordinary feeding conditions it 

 may be stated that a total ration containing that amount of mo- 

 lasses ^^^ould not have a higher digestibility than if fed without 

 it. for the reason that the complete digestibility of the molasses 

 itself is offset by the digestion depression which it exerts on the 

 other feedstuffs. 



Relative Value and Use of Molasses. 



It must not be understood that because molasses lessens the 

 digestibility of the other feedstuffs, or does not improve the 

 digestibility of the mixture of which it is a component, that 

 it has no feeding value. In fact, 2,000 pounds of molasses 

 have substantially three-fourths of the nutritive value of corn 

 meal, and if corn meal retails at $30 a ton, from the stand- 

 point of nutrition, one can afford to pay $22.50 for a ton of 

 molasses. Aside from its nutritive effect it possesses other de- 

 sirable qualities to which allusion Avill presently be made. 



Mola!<ses for Dairy Animals. — Three to 5 pounds of molas- 

 ses may be fed to cows daily in place of a like amount of corn 

 meal, either in water as a drink or pnrtly diluted with water 

 and sprinkled over the hav or cut corn sto^'er, or mixed with 



