Miscellaneous Feeding Stuffs. 207 



lasses is not only appetizing, but according to Patterson of the Mary- 

 land Station^ tends, when fed in moderation, to increase the digesti- 

 bility of the other feeding stuffs. Investigations by the Louisiana 

 Station- show that the planters of that state use cane-sugar molasses 

 extensively, feeding as much as 10 lbs. daily to each mule. They 

 hold that its use reduces the cases of colic and other digestive ail- 

 ments, increases the capacity for work, keeps the animals in better 

 flesh, and effects a saving of 15 to 20 per ct. in the cost of mainte- 

 nance. i\Iarshal and Burns of the Texas Station^ after several trials 

 conclude that 1 gallon of cane-sugar molasses per head daily is the 

 maximum profitable allowance for fattening steers. (425, 543) 



Lindsey of the Massachusetts Station,* as the result of feeding 

 trials and in view of the high price which cane-sugar molasses com- 

 mands in many of the northern markets, writes: "No advantage is 

 to be gained by northern farmers from the use of molasses as a feed 

 for dairy stock, pigs, or horses in the place of corn meal and similar 

 carbohydrates, except as an appetizer for animals out of condition 

 and for facilitating the disposal of unpalatable and inferior rough- 

 age. " Molasses is quite commonly used in preparing animals for 

 shows or sales. Fed in large quantity it is said to be deleterious to 

 breeding animals, leading to sterility, especially with males. 



315. Molasses mixtures. — Cane and beet molasses are now exten- 

 sively used in combination with a wide range of materials, good and 

 bad, to render them more palatable with farm animals. Cocoa waste, 

 peanut hulls, worthless weed seed, as well as the useful screenings 

 and by-products of elevators, flouring mills, breweries, etc., after be- 

 ing sweetened with molasses and dried, are sold under various trade 

 names. Molasses can properly and legitimately be used to improve 

 feeding stuff's of low to fair feeding value. Unfortunately it is often 

 employed to conceal or disguise material having little or no feeding 

 value. Because of the widespread fraud in molasses feeds, they 

 should only be purchased after one has consulted with the feed-con- 

 trol station of his state. 



316. Sugar. — Tho sugar has the same nutritive value as an equal 

 weight of starch, the great fondness for it shown by farm animals 

 renders it helpful in some cases. Owing to heavy internal taxes laid 

 upon sugar for human consumption in France and Germany, it is 

 sometimes denatured by mixing it with vermouth powder, lamp 

 black, salt, peat, etc., after which it is used for feeding to animals. 



'Bui. 117. =Bul. 8(j. ^ Bui. 97. * Bui. 118. 



