162 



MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 230 



tein and fat and more of the nitrogen-free extract, the total losses varying 

 from 10 poimds, in case of the cottonseed hulls, to 25 pounds, in case of the 

 flax shives, for each 100 pounds of dry material treated. The nitrogen-free 

 extract lost consisted principally of pentosans, substances similar to starch 

 and cellulose. 



Digestibility of the Treated Materials 



After the treatment had been completed and tiie materials dried, experi- 

 ments were carried out with sheep to determine digestibility.' 



Summary of Digestion Coefficients. 



Oat Hulls, untreated 

 Oat Hulls, treated 



Percentage increase 

 Cottonseed Hulls, imtreated 

 Cottonseed Hulls, treated 



Percentage increase 

 Rice Hulls, untreated 

 Rice Hulls, treated 

 Flax Shives, untreated 

 Flax Shives, treated 



Total 



Dry Matter 



3() 



81 



122 



53 



55 



3 



very little 



29 



0-30 



29 



Crude 

 Fiber 



52 



91 



73 



58 



53 

 —10 

 very little 



28 



0-19 



23 



Nitrogen-free 



Extract 



34 



79 



132 



59 



68 



15 



very little 



38 



4-33 



38 



The results in the above table represent the average for two sheep. The 

 action of the soda solution is reported on the total material, designated as 

 total dry matter, and on the crude fiber and nitrogen-free extract matter. 

 The other ingredients (protein and fat) were present in such small amounts 

 as to be without practical significance. 



It is clear that the digestibility of the oat hulls as a whole (total dry 

 matter) was very much improved, and the same can be said for the fiber and 

 extract matter. The cottonseed hulls were not improved by the treatment. 

 The sheep were not able to digest the untreated rice hulls to any appreciable 

 extent, but did digest the treated hulls somewhat. The increase in digesti- 

 bility was not sufficient to render the treated product of any practical value. 

 The same can be said of the flax shives.^ 



On the basis of water free material (dry matter), after making an allow- 

 ance for losses due to treatment, a ton of oat hulls was increased in digesti- 

 bility from 725 pounds to 1345 pounds, the digestibility of the crude fiber 

 from 349 to 732 pounds, and the nitrogen-free extract from 390 to 622 pounds. 



It is evident, therefore, that as a result of chemical treatment,^ a marked 

 increase in nutritive value of the oat hulls has been secured and that such 

 treatment would be of service in case of a pronounced shortage of cattle 

 feed. Further study is warranted, in order to devise a method that will 



' For description of method, see Mass. State Agr. Expt. Sta. Rept. 11, pp. 146-149, 

 1893; also Mass. Agri. Expt. Sta. Bui. 181. 



- Barley hulls were also tested but they contained so much of the barley meal as to 

 render the results valueless. 



' A fuller report of these studies has been given in the Journal of Agricultural 

 Research, Vol. XXVII, No. 5. 



