330 



FARMER'S CYCLOPEDIA OF LIVE STOCK 



On the basis of data gathered from a 

 large number of Louisiana planters 

 Dalrymple states that molasses is widely 

 used as a feeding stuff for plantation 

 horses and mules. The average con- 

 sumption, as observed by him on 42 

 plantations in the sugar belt, being 9V2 

 pounds per head per day, and ranging 

 from 2 to 22 pounds. According to this 

 investigator, the opinion that molasses 

 constitutes a wholesome, easily digested 

 and economical constituent of a ration 

 for draft animals, is confirmed. The 

 southern planters have found that mo- 

 lasses may advantageously be mixed with 

 grain or cut hay. In Sweden, molasses 

 has been fed during long periods in ra- 

 tions of 3 pounds per day without 

 causing injurious effects upon the 

 horses. In Massachusetts, a much ad- 

 vertised material, known as blomo feed, 

 was tested in feeding horses. This feed 

 is apparently a mixture of ground corn 

 stalks, or similar material, with dried 

 blood and refuse molasses. It is nearly 

 black in color, sticky and of a bulky, 

 fibrous nature. As sold at the present 

 time, it is guaranteed to contain 15 

 per cent of protein. A digestion ex- 

 periment with blomo feed showed that it 

 is quite inferior to corn or oats in this 

 respect. At the ordinary market price, 

 the proprietary feed is much more ex- 

 pensive than oats or corn meal, cost- 

 ing at least twice as much as corn meal 

 and one-third more than oats. Most 

 horses were found to eat it readily, and 

 it may be fed in daily rations of 6 

 quarts. It is not injurious, so far as 

 has been observed, but it is very ex- 

 pensive and does not keep well. 



In Florida, Conner tried cane sirup as 

 a feed for horses, mixed with corn. The 

 sirup was somewhat thin and for this 

 reason 5 pounds of it was substituted 

 for 4 pounds of corn. Both mules and 

 horses remained in good condition on the 

 sirup, although they were kept at hard 

 work. It appears, therefore, that low 

 grade sirup may be fed to work horse3 

 and mules, provided it is mixed with 

 chopped hay or grain. One serious ob- 

 jection to this feed, from a practical 

 standpoint, is that molasses, unless care- 

 fully mixed with straw, hay or grain 

 makes the mangers very gummy. Even 

 under the best of conditions, it is a 

 nasty feed, and attracts flies. If mo- 

 lasses is to be fed regularly, it would 

 seem best to have a metallic lining to 

 the feed box so that it can be thorough- 



ly cleaned at frequent intervals, partic- 

 ularly in hot weather. 



A blood-molasses feed used in horse 

 rations in Copenhagen, proved very val- 

 uable for horses and appeared to be suit- 

 able for substitution in the place of a 

 part of the grain ration, at the rate of 

 3 pounds of the molasses feed to 1 

 pounds of grain. At the prevailing 

 prices, the molasses feed was cheaper 

 than a whole ration of grain and pro 

 duced a considerable annual saving in 

 the expense of feed. Molasses has also 

 proved a successful feed for horses in 

 the Fiji islands. As much as 30 pound3 

 of molasses a day were fed to each 

 working horse, but the ration finally 

 adopted as most suitable was 15 pounds 

 of molasses, 3 pounds of bran and 1 

 pounds of corn. Green cane tops were 

 also fed in addition to this ration. The 

 health of the horses remained excellent 

 and no diarrhea resulted. On the con- 

 trary, the molasses appeared to have a 

 constipating effect, which was partly 

 counteracted by the bran. The use of 

 molasses and cane tops, which would 

 otherwise have been a waste material, 

 effected a saving of over $45 per head 

 per year. The managers of sugar plan- 

 tations have decided, therefore, that mo- 

 lasses is a satisfactory substitute foi 

 starchy food, and recommended rations 

 of 15 pounds per day to horses weighing 

 1.250 pounds. The molasses produces no 

 undue fatness or softness, nor does it 

 lower the endurance of the horse. 



Berns found in his experiments with 

 molasses, that horses gain from 2 to 3 

 pounds a day, when fed 1 quan 

 of molasses diluted with 5 pounds of 

 cut hay. The rapid gain was made 

 during a period of rest, but at the end 

 of six weeks the horses appeared to be 

 in fine .working condition, and were 

 not softened as a result of eating mo- 

 lasses. Further experiments were then 

 carried on with 100 heavy truck 

 horses for a period, of 14 months. Each 

 horse received morning and night, 1 

 quart of molasses diluted in 3 quarts 

 of water, thoroughly mixed with 6 

 pounds of cut hay, 2V2 quarts of bran 

 and IV2 quarts of corn meal. The 

 noon ration consisted of 5 quarts of 

 dry oats, and long hay was fed at night. 

 The animals gradually improved in con- 

 dition and gained in weight, their coat 

 becoming sleek and glossy. 



Molasses has also been tested with 

 army horses in Porto Rico, being mixed 



