70 



MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 158. 



This experiment showed flax shives to have a digestibihty of about 45 

 per cent, as compared with 66 per cent, for wheat bran; in other words, 1 

 ton of flax shives would contain only 900 pounds of cUgestible matter, 

 while wheat bran contains about 1,140 pounds. Their high fiber content 

 requires considerable extra energy for their digestion.. This fact, coupled 

 with their small ajnount of protein and their low total digestibihty, renders 

 them in no way economical for eastern feeders. As a component of mixed 

 feed they must be considered as a filler or adulterant. They may serve, 

 where they are produced, as a partial feed for sheep or steers. 



6. MELLEN'S FOOD REFUSE. 



Tliis material is sold to a hmited extent in eastern Massachusetts and 

 consists of the residue resulting from the manufacture of an infant food. 

 The original ingredients used in this food are malt, flour and bran, the 

 soluble and more digestible parts of these materials going into the infant 

 food. 



(1) Chemical Composition. 



Water, 



Ash, 



Protein, 



Fiber, 



Nitrogeu-free extract, 



Fat, 



Per Cent. 

 6.98 

 4.07 

 12.57 

 16.97 

 55.48 

 3.93 



(2) Digestion Coefficients with Sheep. 



Pounds Digestible Organic Matter in 100. 

 Protein, 

 Fiber, 



Nitrogen-free extract, 

 Fat, 



Total, 



5.66 



7.64 



32.18 



3.26 



48.74 



Mellen's Food refuse was found to contain 975 pounds of digestible 

 organic nutrients as compared with 1,140 pounds for wheat bran. Its 

 low digestibility is due, no doubt, to the fact that the more digestible 

 parts of the ingredients used are to be found in the prepared food itseK. 

 It has a net energy value of 44.58 therms as compared with 49 themis for 



