348 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Ocr., 1899. 
THE USE OF MOLASSES AS A FOOD FOR LIVE STOCK. 
By DICKSON AND MALPEAUX.* 
THE molasses used for the experiments contained — 
46 per cent. sugar. 
2°45 per cent. ash. 
11°56 per cent. nitrogenous organic substance. 
26°8 per cent. water. 
Jn an experiment with butcher’s sheep, two groups (as near alike as possible) 
of six sheep each were formed. One of the groups received for 20 days, per 
day and per head, 10 Ib. of beetroot slices and 14 lb. of cotton-seed meal; and 
the second group an additional 7 Ib. of molasses, which was mixed 24 hours 
before being used with the slices and a little chaff. The animals liked the 
molasses, which produced no ill-effects whatever. The group of the sheep 
without molasses increased during the time of experiment 35°8 Ib, and that of 
the other group 50°6 Ib. After an intermediate period of three days, the food 
of one group was changed to the other group, and again continued for 20 days. 
In this case the increase of weight was 33°6 Ib. in the group. without molasses 
and 48°8 lb. in the group fed with molasses. : 
In a second series of a similar experiment with fattening sheep, the use of 
'S Ib. of the cotton-seed meal was replaced by ‘88 lb. of molasses. In 20 days 
the group of sheep (again six animals were used) fed with the molasses increased 
40°2 lb., the other group 35°5 Ib. During the next 20 days, in which the feeding 
of the groups was reversed, the group of molasses-fed sheep increased 40°6 Ib., 
and the other 35°6 Ib. ‘ 
Four Yorkshire pigs out of the same litter were divided into two groups—the 
one receiving 11 lb. of boiled mashed potatoes, 441b. of a mixture of crushed rye 
and horse beans, and 22 lb. of fatty slops water. ‘The second group received an 
additional ‘9 1b. of molasses. The molasses was mixed with the potatoes, and 
was greedily eaten by the pigs. The increase of weight during 40 days was, 
in the first group, 107 1b., and in the second group, fed with molasses, 123 Ib. 
The same advantage of the molasses-fed pigs was shown during the next period 
of 40 days, during which the feeding of the groups was reversed, showing an 
increase of weight of 146 Ib. and 162 1b. respectively. 
Similar experiments were carried out with heifers 22 and 24 months old. 
The fodder consisted of 5:5 lb. of clover hay, 5°5 Ib. of oaten straw, 35 |b. of 
sliced beets, and 12 Ib. of oil cake. A second group of two beasts received an 
additional 13 1b. of molasses, which was mixed, 24 hours before being used, with 
the beet and water. The animals took easily to the molasses food. 
The experimental periods of 20 days each, feed reversed in the second 
period, showed increases in weight for the groups fed with molasses of 783 lb., 
wnd 80°2 Ib., the groups fed without molasses of 60°7 lb. and 52:3 Jb. respectively. 
In an experiment with 4 milking cows, fed with 5% 1b. of clover hay, 12 Ib. 
of oaten straw, 110 Ib. of sliced beets, and 4:4 1b. of oil cake during a period of 
50 days—one group receiving an additional 24 Ib. of molasses per head and per 
day—the molasses food did not increase the quality or quantity of the milk, but 
the animals increased considerably in weight. 
With four horses, fed with 153 1b. of oats. 11 Ib. of lucerne hay, and 11 Ib. 
of wheat straw, part of the oats was gradually replaced by an equal weight 
of molasses. ‘The change was made in such a manner that from the first day the 
quantity of oats was reduced by 66 lb., and from the sixth day by 22 1b. ‘The 
molasses was given with the drinking water. The health, appearance, endurance 
* Annal. Agran, 1898, vol. 24: Translated from ‘‘ Biederman’s Central Blatt fiir Agri- 
cultur Chemie,” Mar. 1899, by T. C. Briinnich, Agricultural Chemist, Queensland Agricultural 
College. 
