14 



consistency or body of the butter was not noted. This is worthy of 

 further investigation, 



SUMMARY. 



1. Any particularly favorable effect of Porto Rico molasses 

 upon the general health and appearance of the six milch cows 

 employed in the above described experiment was not observed. The 

 faeces from the molasses fed animals were darker in color and softer 

 than from those receiving the corn meal ration. 



2. A daily ration containing nearly four pounds of corn meal 

 produced some lo per cent more milk and 1 1 to 13 per cent more 

 total solids and fat than a similar basal ration containing a like 

 amount of Porto Rico molasses. 



3. The molasses ration seemed to produce milk with slightly less 

 fat and solids not fat than did the corn meal ration. 



4. A like amount of milk and butter from the molasses ration 

 cost 8 to 1 1 per cent more than from the corn meal ration. 



5. Molasses did not produce any unfavorable effect upon the 

 flavor of the milk. 



Numerous foreign experiments are recorded relative to the value 

 both of raw molasses and of molasses feeds for milch cows"". The 

 results are often contradictory ; in some cases it is indicated that 

 molasses increased the fat percentage in the milk, and in other 

 cases the body weight. 



The general conclusions at the Copenhagen Experiment Station"^, 

 when experiments were conducted according to the Fjord method 

 were that corn, wheat, wheat bran and also molasses had substan- 

 tially equal values for dairy stock but that for milk production these 

 were inferior to concentrated feeds rich in protein and fat. A 

 molasses ration did not cause any marked change either in the con- 

 dition of the animal or in the quality of the milk. It had no effect 

 on the composition of the butter fat other than to increase the melt- 

 ing point some two degrees and render the butter firmer. 



Ramm's""'' investigations lead him to conclude that the amido 

 bodies contained in the molasses act as a stimulant upon the mam- 

 mary glands and check the normal diminution in the secretion of the 

 milk. Both Ramm and Hagermann''' further maintain that the 



^2 Same reference as 2, Schinoeger, etc. 



^3 Summary in Ann. Sci. Agron. 20 Serie, Tome II 1904, pages 1S2-186. 



