284 THE CHEMISTRY OF CATTLE FEEDING 



As both of these are liable to interfere with the processes of 

 digestion and derange the health of the animals, treacle can 

 only be given in limited quantities. Though of little or no 

 nutritive value, the amides and potash salts tend to enrich the 

 manure. This fact should not be overlooked, as it might be, 

 for molasses is rightly regarded as a purely carbohydrate food. 



The best way to use this substance is to dilute it with hot 

 water and mix the solution with other foods, e.g. hay or straw, 

 maize, etc. The sweet flavour is greatly relished by the cattle, 

 and treacle may be used as a condiment for food that is other- 

 wise not very appetising. It should never be used, however, 

 to induce cattle to consume food that has become mouldy, 

 decayed, or otherwise unfit for use. 



Materials of this kind can now be obtained ready prepared. 

 They are called molasses meals, sugar feeds, or by some fancy 

 name. The condition in which they are sold is usually that 

 of a slightly moist but friable meal or powder, which is more 

 convenient to handle than th6 viscous liquid. The absorbent 

 material most commonly used is peat. This substance is not 

 only of no nutritive value in itself, but probably lowers that of 

 the molasses mixed with it. Chaff, husks, and similar substances 

 are sometimes used instead, and such samples are generally 

 guaranteed to contain no peat. The nutritive value of these 

 substances is very little, if at all, superior to that of peat, and 

 they are very liable to be infected with moulds or other 

 deleterious fungi. The amount of absorbent material required 

 to produce a fairly dry meal is, however, relatively small and, 

 as the products are not used in large quantities at a time, it 

 probably does little harm. These meals usually contain from 

 40 to 50 per cent, of sugar, and should be valued solely 

 according to the amount of that constituent. 



Locust or Carob Beans, This feeding stuff consists of the 

 whole fruit or pod containing the seeds or beans proper. 

 They are grown chiefly in the island of Cyprus, and are dried 

 after being harvested. They contain about 50 per cent, of 

 sugar and from 15 to 20 per cent, of other "soluble" carbo- 

 hydrates. They are relished by cattle on account of their 

 pronounced sweet taste. Even when thoroughly dried they 



