1921.] 



Winter Feeding of Livestock. 



727 



its food therefore rarely contains much fibrous material. For 

 this reason, too, silage is unsuitable for pigs intended for 

 fattening, although perfectly suitable for breeding stock. 



With regard to roots, these are fed normally to cattle and 

 sheep and occasionally to horses and pigs. They are, however, 

 chiefly used for cattle and sheep, and it is for these animals 

 that the question of rationing in the case of a shortage becomes 

 a serious problem. Roots are watery feeding stuffs containing 

 sugars and starchy material chiefly, with but very little fibre. 



Use of Molasses. — Sugar cane and beet molasses consist of 

 sugar residues, amides and no fibre, and are therefore approximate 

 to roots from the feeding standpoint, in the nature of the food 

 material supplied. One ton of molasses is approximately equal 

 in feeding value to 6 J tons of roots, but owing to its peculiar 

 laxative properties cannot be fed to cattle to anything like the 

 extent that roots can. Thus the limit for feeding molasses to 

 farm animals is as follows : — Horses up to 3 lb., cows 2^- lb., 

 bullocks 4 lb., and sheep J- J lb. per head per day. Pigs as a 

 general rule do not do well on molasses, and its use for them is 

 not advocated. 



The general solution of feeding problems in cases where roots 

 are scarce resolves itself into a question of feeding more hay or 

 etraw and utilising molasses to replace part of the roots, and 

 feeding more concentrated meals, cake and corn to make up the 

 deficiency in the ration. It will be seen from the statement above 

 that molasses can only be regarded as a substitute for roots to a 

 limited extent. Molasses has the great advantage that it is laxa- 

 tive in effect, is a general appetiser, and is much appreciated by 

 stock. The maximum benefit of molasses is consequently obtained 

 by using it with straw and inferior quality hay. This enables the 

 stock-feeder, in the case of a mixed stock farm, to reserve his 

 best hay entirely f^r his horses or his ewe flock. 



Method of using Molasses. — (1) When used with straw, the 

 molasses should be dissolved in warm water, thrown over the 

 straw, well mixed and allowed to ferment for 12 hours before 

 feeding. 



(2) The measured quantity of molasses may be mixed directly 

 with the food, or be placed in the trough on the top of the food. 

 Dairy cows wdll eat molasses given in this form quite greedily. 



Objections to Molasses. — The chief objection to molasses is due 

 to its stickiness and difficulty in handKng. For this reason, 

 proprietary foods are available for the use of farmers who may 

 prefer to get their molasses in this form. Such foods consist of 



