MOLASSES FOR FEEDING HORSES. 241 



within reasonable limits. Without doubt, as before stated, the 

 milk is of an exceptional quality. 



As regards the evil effects that have resulted to milch cows 

 receiving molasses in their daily rations during gestation, this 

 is difficult to explain, and possibly the feeder was more at fault 

 than the animal fed. Then again, the nature of the molasses 

 may have been responsible, and among the authorities who 

 argue from this basis, we may mention Hoppe, who says that 

 the composition of molasses plays a most important role. He 

 justly declares that molasses having become even slightly 

 soured should never be used. 



Among the interesting theories as regards the physiological 

 influences of molasses, may be mentioned the excessive increase 

 of the urine secretion of milch cows, which has a pernicious in- 

 fluence upon the heart and kidneys. 



The protein percentage of milk does not appear to be influ- 

 enced. This would show that molasses causes slight increase 

 in protein, which would, in a measure, explain why the ani- 

 mals fed lose in weight. The relative amount of dry substances 

 is slightly decreased, but to this very little importance need be 

 attached, as is shown by the Fleischmann formula for milk 

 analysis. The absorption of molasses increases the acidity of 

 milk especially the evening milk. Such milk will coagulate 

 spontaneously after three or four days, while milk from cows 

 that have not been fed with molasses will coagulate only after 

 seven or eight days. 



Experiments in the fermentation of milk by the Walter and 

 Gerber method were less favorable with the product from 

 molasses-fed cows than with normal milk; but these results are 

 far from forcing the conclusion that the milk in question is un- 

 healthy. The quality of the butter is not influenced. The 

 data relating to this analysis show it to be normal, only the 

 butter is a little harder and its melting-point is a few degrees 

 Centigrade higher than other butters. There have been noticed 

 no perceptible differences in the taste of the two products. 



Experiments in feeding residuum molasses to horses were con- Molasses for 

 ducted by L. Grandean, who has published an account of same, feeding horses. 

 It is interesting to note in a general way what he says respect- 

 16 



