MOLASSES AND THE DAIRY RATION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1528, 26 August 1912, Page 8

MOLASSES AND THE DAIRY RATION.

- .' AN EXPERT OPINION. An inquiry addressed to the Fields and Experiment Farms Division of the Agricultural Department as to tho vuluo oi molasses, mixed with hay or chaif, and fed to dairy cows, has brought the following reply from tho Director of the" Division,:— Tho addition of molasses to the ration of dairy cuttle very materially increases tho quantity of milk. The profit attending its use can. only be decided by tho farmer himseif;~iis the cost of the moiassse, and of the material with which it is mixed, as 'vrett as the' cost of labour in relation to tho valuo of tho increased milk production, require to be considered. -It is usti- , ally accepted that molasses are most conveniently' supplied to stock mixed with coarsely-cut chaff. The molasses are jlilutedwith water Sufficient to permitiit to be easily poured from a suitable vessel, as a can or bucket (tho mixture would be about the consistency of quite thin cream). This can then bo sprinkled over a heap of clvaiT. This heap can then 'bo turned and mixed with a long-handled shovel. The chaff should be thoroughly moistened, but with- • out an excess; there should be no liquid to soak out. If small quantities of chaff . arc used, the mixing is conveniently performed in a trough or shallow tub. If molasses are fed with hay, a greater quantity of woter will be required. It is usually sprinkled over the hay as it is being filled into the feeding-racks through tho rose of a watoring-can. It is found that ' tlis use 'of molasses"' in moderate quantities is beneficial to all domestic animals. ■This is, firstly, on account of its being a food, and secondly because it is in the mature .of a condiment which induces ani- ' ■ mils' to "consume dry foods, as straw cr ! chaff, inlargw quantity than would be the < case without this addition; Animals must ' .be,gradually, accustomed to its use, or the ' •■laxative-effect (aotually purging) will l.e : foitnd ,to be detrimental. An increased ' urination, would also bo observed. The ; amount' of molasses supplied to a cow of < medium she should at . first. not exceed lib.; later, this may be increased to !)lb. i . ,'J'he leffect on tho cow' should be carefully : and the quantity reduced, < r i altogether withdrawn, if there be,.rurg- ' '.'ing. ,lt may.be observxl .that it is seldom ; ; that, farmers continue the use of.niolosses i i for'any length of "time, for, apart from j' ' cost, this food is tiresome to handle. Tho I ! general 'opinion is that molasses are not H worth their'cost and trouble, and as cue ■ ,vho has had.experience of it, its use is not highly -nor can it bo par- '. ..ticularly- advocated. : . i