54 



MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 158. 



The presence of so much ash is due to the relatively large amount of 

 molasses. The crude protein is largely in the amino form, and is of doubt- 

 ful value for flesh and milk production; the extract matter is composed 

 largely of sugar and aUied substances; the crude fat or ether extract is of 

 no particular account. A test for potash showed the presence of 4.50 per 

 cent., about the same amount as found in cane molasses. 



(2) Digestibility of Molassine Meal. 

 Five trials were made with three different sheep, using 600 grams of 

 hay and 200 grams of Molassine meal in two cases, and 550 grams of hay 

 and 200 grams of the meal in one case. Tliis combination was found to 

 give a rather wide nutritive ratio, so two more trials were made, feeding 

 550 grams of hay, 150 grams of gluten feed and 200 grams of Molassine 

 meal. The results secured Tvath each sheep, and the average, follow : — 



' Total ration. ^ Fed with English hay. ' Fed with English hay and gluten feed. 



The results show that the Molassine meal has about the same degree of 

 total digestibihty as wheat bran. The ash has a high, and the extract 

 matter a fair degree of digestibihty. The fiber was poorly utilized; in 

 some instances none was digested. Where Molassine meal and hay were 

 fed the digestibility of the crude protein was low, due in part to the rela- 

 tively small amount of nitrogen in the ration in proportion to the meta- 

 bolic by-products. Where gluten feed was added to the ration the digest- 

 ibihty of the protein was considerably higher. The Molassine meal is 

 some 20 per cent, less digestible than cane molasses (proportion of 62 to 

 78), due to the presence of the sphagnum moss. Applying the digestion 

 coefficients to the analysis of Molassine, one secures the following number 

 of pounds of digestible organic matter in 100 pounds, and by multiplying 

 by 20, the amount in 1 ton: — 



