MILCH COW FEEDING WITH MOLASSES. 239 



impossible. The blood not being able to supply the oxygen 

 necessary for its transformation, there results a stored-up energy 

 for subsequent tissue and fat formation. 



The other carbohydrates, under the influence of the gastric 

 juice and other active principles secreted by the stomach, intes- 

 tinal canal, etc., are transformed into sugar only after an 

 interval of time, under which circumstances it frequently hap- 

 pens that the sugar thus formed is entirely consumed by the 

 combustion of the body, and but little remains for tissue forma- 

 tion. Killner advances the theory that there are always certain 

 carbohydrates very difficult to digest, and they, with starch, 

 help the formation of methane in the intestines. No such 

 transformations occur with sugar, and its purpose consequently 

 is almost entirely one of organic production. Several agrono- 

 mists point out that this fact alone gives sugar an advantage 

 over all other carbohydrates for fat formation, and hence its 

 value for cattle-feeding, either as it is found in molasses or in 

 other forms that the farmers have at their disposal. 



Experience shows that it is desirable to commence the feed- Manner of 

 ing with molasses in small quantities, gradually increasing the fed'ufl- 

 amounts; we may admit about one-quarter of the ultimate 

 ration, as a beginning. Even under these circumstances certain 

 physical organic difficulties at first occur; but there is no reason 

 for alarm, as they subsequently disappear. Among the numer- 

 ous precautionary measures to be taken in feeding molasses, 

 mention may be made of avoiding the exceptional molasses 

 which contains excessive saline elements. The residuum from 

 sugar refineries or factories where the sugar is largely ex- 

 tracted demands special attention, and hence in certain cases 

 it may be found desirable to have made an ash estimation of 

 the molasses that is to be used for feeding purposes. While 

 the nitrogen percentage of the dry matter of regular molasses 

 is 2.16, this percentage falls to 0.69 in molasses from the 

 strontia process. 



In certain cases there has followed a slight decrease in weight Milch cow 

 upon feeding molasses to milch cows, but the fact that the flow T feeding with 

 of milk has been increased must not be overlooked. Without molasses, 

 doubt the product has an important action upon the milk 



