164 



MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 230 



4. Digestion studies show that the dry matter of the Eastern white pine 

 sawdust was about 46 per cent digestible, while that of the Douglas fir saw- 

 dust was about 33 per cent digestible. In the case of the Douglas fir saw- 

 dust, digestion was confined principally to the sugar formed by the treatment, 

 while in the case of the white pine sawdust apparently some of the cellulose 

 was digested also. 



5. If the process of treatment could be modified so as to convert a larger 

 proportion of the cellulose of the wood into sugar, or more completely sep- 

 arate the cellulose from the lignin, the food value of the material would be 

 enhanced. 



6. On the basis of equal amounts of digestible nutrients the sawdust when 

 fed to dairy cows produced only slightly smaller amounts of milk than did 

 corn starch, but it took, on an average, 2.75 pounds of sawdust to equal one 

 pound of starch. The cows fed on the treated sawdust ration produced rather 

 less milk, shown more in their milk yield at the beginning of the experiment, 

 and gained less in body weight, on the treated sawdust than on the starch 

 ration, all of which is indicative of the fact that, on the basis of equal amounts 

 of digested matter, the treated sawdust was inferior to the starcli. 



7. On the basis of the present supply and cost of carbohydrate concen- 

 trates it is believed that the ]iroduct as now prepared has no economic value. 

 Under unusual conditions, as in the case of an extreme shortage of ordinary 

 feedstuifs, it might be used as a partial substitute for the cereal grains or 

 starchy by-products. 



4,000. 5-'26. Order 5317. 



