1920.] 



Notes on Feeding Stuffs. 



proceeded very far. Indeed it seems hardly justifiable to use 

 the name even when quaUfied by the prefix " semi." It has not 

 been possible to make a determination of the digestibility, but 

 it is no doubt very near to that of the undecorticated cake. 

 On this assumption the number of food units per ton is probably 

 about 110. The writer has used a sample of this semi-decor- 

 ticated cake as an addition to roots and straw for fattening 

 cattle since November last with good results. The cattle 

 have thrived and made good increases. It is a cake with a 

 high percentage of protein, and should not be given in large 

 quantities or the protein in the ration will be unnecessarily 

 high. 



Coconut cake is the fourth cheapest feeding stuff on the Hst, 

 its price per ton corresponding to 3s. id. per food unit. Its 

 composition is similar to that of palm kernel cake, and it can 

 be used generally in the same way as that cake. 



Wheat bran, the fifth food in order of price per food unit, 

 is so well known and so widely used that no comment on it is 

 required. 



A correspondent has kindly suggested that some account 

 should be given in this month's notes of sesame cake. He adds 

 that he bought a quantity of this cake some time ago and 

 found it satisfactory for cattle and sheep. Its keeping quahties 

 were good. A quantity kept for a year did not show rancidity. 

 Sesame cake is obtained by expressing the oil from species of 

 sesamum grown in India and Asia Minor. As made in England 

 its composition is : — • 



Digestible 

 Composition. Nutrients. 

 Per cent. Per cent. 

 Water . . . . . . . . . . 9-3 — 



Protein .. .. .. .. .. 44-5 400 



Oil .. .. .. .. .. 11-9 10-7 



Carbohydrates .. .. .. .. 20-9 11-7 



Fibre 4-5 1-4 



Ash .. .. .. .. .. 8'9 — 



On the basis of the above figures it contains 130 food units 

 per ton, and its starch equivalent is 73. It has been used 

 largely in France and in Germany. Most of the information 

 about it comes from the latter country, where it is looked upon 

 as a most suitable feeding stuff for dairy cows so long as the 

 daily allowance per cow does not exceed about 3 lb. It is 

 exceedingly rich in protein, and contains much oil. In this 

 it resembles decorticated cotton cake and ground nut cake. 



4 K 



