PREPARATION OF FEEDING-STUFFS 145 



8. The malting of grains and the preparation of 

 sweet mashes. 



The preparation of green malt for feeding pur- 

 poses is not to be recommended, for the germination 

 of the grain causes considerable loss of easily 

 digestible nutrients. It has been observed that 

 from 100 kilos of barley 2-5-3 kilos of starch were 

 lost during four days' germination, whilst after nine 

 days the loss reached 5-6 kilos. The proteins were 

 also decomposed, and in the first period of germina- 

 tion 20-30% were changed into non-protein sub- 

 stance. Seeds such as those of the lupine, which 

 have an unpleasant taste, are not improved by 

 germination, so that in cases of this kind no benefit 

 results from " malting." Sometimes a sweet mash 

 is prepared from potatoes with the help of small 

 quantities of malt (0-3-0-5 lb. per 100 lbs. potatoes), 

 and this when freshly prepared is readily eaten, 

 and with good results. It is very apt, though, to 

 cause scouring when it has stood for some time and 

 become sour. 



Such sweet mashes should always be used quickly, 

 for otherwise the spores of yeasts in the air can 

 cause them to undergo alcoholic fermentation and 

 to have an objectionable effect upon the animal 

 (p. 119). Very good results are obtained with 

 calves and young pigs from a sweet mash prepared 

 in the following way according to Liebig's directions. 

 For each calf take 3J quarts of milk, 3-J- quarts of 



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