208 Feeds and Feeding. 



317. Dried distillers' grains. — In the manufacture of alcohol, the 

 corn, rye, etc., after grinding are treated with a solution of malt to 

 convert the starch into sugar, which is next converted into alcohol by 

 tlie action of yeast. This is distilled off and leaves a watery residue, 

 knowTQ as distillers' slops or slump. Formerly the slump was fed to 

 fattening steers at the distillery; now it is largely dried in vacuum 

 and the product placed on the market as a cattle feed under various 

 proprietary names. In 1904; Lindsey of the Massachusetts (Hatch) 

 Station^ placed the annual output of dried distillers' grains at 60,000 

 tons. Until recently, most of this product was exported to Germany. 

 Dried distillers' grains are rich in digestible crude protein and fat, 

 with a fair content of carbohydrates. Corn makes the richest and rye 

 the poorest dried distillers' grains. 



Plumb of the Indiana Station- found that horses did not relish 

 dried distillers' grains. At the Kentucky Station^ May found a 

 combination of dried distillers' grains and corn the most economical 

 of the several rations tested for fattening steers. Lindsey,* in a trial 

 with dairy cows, found the grains rather superior to Buffalo gluten 

 feed in nutritive value and in no way objectionable. He recom- 

 mended that dairy cows receive from 2 to 4 lbs. daily mixed with 

 other concentrates. He valued the grains at 50 per ct, more than 

 wheat bran. Hills of the Vermont Station' found that a mixture con- 

 taining dried distillers' grains produced more milk than one contain- 

 ing dried brewers' grains. (540, 647, 754, 862) 



VII. Poisonous Plants. 



Only the briefest mention can be made of the leading plants poison- 

 ous to stock. One in trouble should send suspected specimens to his 

 State Experiment Station or the United States Department of Agri- 

 culture. 



318. Loco poisoning. — Great numbers of horses, cattle, and sheep 

 have been lost on the great ranges of Western America thru "loco" 

 poisoning brought about by eating various plants, mostly legumes. 

 Tlie loss from this cause in Colorado alone has been estimated at a 

 million dollars annually.'^ "Locoed" animals have a rough coat and 

 staggering gait, carry a lowered head, and show paralytic symptoms — 

 in general, going "crazy." Until recently the source of this plague 

 lias eluded solution. The studies of Marsh and Crawford^ seem to 



' Bui. 94. » Rpt. 1903. 



= Bui. 97. « U. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Plant Tudus., Bui. 

 =* Bui. 108. 121, Pt. Ill; iTarmers ' Bui. 380. 



*Mass. Expt.Sta.,Bul. 94. ^ Loe. cit. * 



