158 



MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 230 



The first lot of cottonseed meal was inferior to the second lot. It is evident 

 that extra cottonseed hulls had been added to it, increasing the fiber to 19.69 

 per cent, much above the normal. 



Digestion Coefficients and Net Energy Values 



It is hardly fair to average the two lots of meal, as one contains so much 

 more fiber or hulls than the other. The horse Joe did not utilize the meal as 

 well as did Chub. Botli horses made excellent use of the protein and fat but 

 failed to digest the fiber fully. Joe did not secure as much net energy as 

 did Chub. It would be expected that Lot II, containing less fiber, would 

 yield more net energy than Lot I, and such proved to be the case. On the 

 basis of our results, exact figures for net energy cannot be deduced. It is be- 

 lieved that the data secured with Chub are more relialjle than those secured 

 with Joe. On this supposition it may be assumed that the tlierms of net 

 energy in 100 pounds of cottonseed meal will be from 87 to 104. Much, 

 however, depends upon the percentages of fiber and fat contained in the meal. 



Our trials show that horses are able to digest cottonseed me;il fairly weil, 

 especially tlie protein and fat; and that a liberal amount of energy was 

 derived from its use, — nearly as much as from corn. Its chief use for the 

 horse would be as a source of protein, especially for hard-worked horses, to 

 the extent of from 5 to 10 per cent of the grain ration. 



A Word About Linseed Meal. 



Two experiments were carried out with this meal, but some of the results 

 were so uncertain that they are not presented. The protein was quite as 

 well digested as that contained in the cottonseed meal. The results for net 

 energy varied widely. The writer would assume, however, that it would not 

 vary greatly from those secured for cottonseed meal. Earlier feeding trials 

 with linseed meal mixed with whole corn and oats, to the extent of 20 per 

 cent, indicated that it did not mix evenly with uncrushed feeds. Horses do 

 not care for it if fed unmixed, but will eat a reasonable amount readily if it 

 constitutes part of a mixture. The addition of 5 to 10 per cent of linseed 

 meal to a grain ration of one or more cereals will furnisli tlie extra protein 

 needed by hard-worked horses and will be eaten without trouble. 



