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1 May, 1898.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 359 
The object of the present paper is to give a short account of some feeding 
trials conducted on a very large scale, which prove that, at least under certain 
conditions, a high diet is not essential to the performance of hard work or the 
maintenance of good condition, provided sufficient nutritive food be given. 
In Fiji the Colonial Sugar Refining Company have. about 1,000 head of 
farm horses, which, until a few years ago, were fed chiefly on oats and maize, 
with some green cane tops in addition. But this did not prove satisfactory in 
the trying tropical climate; sickness was frequent, and the death rate high, 
while the charge for fodder was very heavy. As large quantities of waste 
molasses were available, it was thought well to investigate whether the sugar 
in this material might not be advantageously used as a substitute for some of 
the starch in the ordinary food. 
The use of beet molasses for feeding dairy cattle and for fattening stock 
has in certain parts of Europe proved highly satisfactory, but I have seen no 
record of its use in the regular diet of working horses. Cane molasses 
contains much less nitrogen than beet molasses, the Fiji article having only 
one-fifth of what is usually present in the beet product, and being therefore 
theoretically less valuable for feeding purposes. 
When these trials were commenced, care was taken to begin with only 
small quantities of new fodder lest the high proportion of salts should prove 
too laxative. Horses unaccustomed to sugar do not like it at first, but the sweet 
taste is soon acquired, after which they will eat it in preference to any other 
food. With the growing appetite for it, the proportion of molasses was 
gradually increased till as much as 30 1b. per day were regularly given to many 
of the animals. This large proportion was after a time, however, reduced to 
15 lb.; not by reason of any ill effect beyond the tendency to fatten, but 
because it was considered too risky an experiment with so much valuable stock. 
Contrary to expectation, the molasses diet produced constipation, instead of 
being laxative, and a few pounds of bran had to be given daily to keep the 
bowels in order. The ration finally adopted was 15 Ib. of molasses, 3 Ib. of 
bran, and 4 lb. of maize per day, with as much green cane tops as the animal 
ean cat, the molasses being mixed with the bran and chopped cane tops. 1 
may be mentioned that on one occasion when the supply of maize ran out, and 
had to be replaced by some additional molasses and cane tops, the loss of it for 
a month or two did not seem to affect in the least the health or working power 
of the horses. It has not yet, however, been decided to discontinue altogether 
the use of maize, and the ration referred to (15 lb. molasses, 3 lb. bran, and 
4b. maize) has now been given daily to the whole stock of over 400 horses at 
Rarawai Plantation for nearly two years. The result is entirely satisfactory. 
There has been no undue fattening or injury to the wind, and no tendency to 
excessive perspiration or softness. In the early stages of the trials a dozen of 
the animals were weighed once a month, the average weight at the start being 
1,273 lb. After the first month there was an average loss of weight of 15 1b, 
per head, after the second month 43 1b. of the loss had been recovered, and 
after the third month there was a further gain of 163 1b., making a gain over 
the whole period of 6 1b. per head. 
Sickness, which formerly was frequent, is now uncommon, and the horses 
are capable of performing harder and more continuous work. The improve- 
ment in this respect is so great that, while the area of cultivation has been 
largely increased, it has not been necessary to make any addition to the working 
stock. 
Another important consideration is the financial result. In 1893, with 
oats as the staple food, it cost £18 3s. per head per annum to feed the stock; in 
1867 this has been reduced to £4 2s. 2d., being a saving of over £9 per annum. 
Such a saving, however, has only been possible by reason of large quantities of 
waste molasses and valueless cane crops being available on the spot. Cane 
tops cannot in ordinary circumstances be procured for horse feed by the farmer, 
though lucerne or any fresh grass is even more suitable. Then, for molasses, 
which at a sugar-mill has little or no value, a price has elsewhere to be paid to 
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