VALUE OF MOLASSES.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20260, 31 July 1937, Page 26 (Supplement)

VALUE OF MOLASSES.

POPULARITY IN QUEENSLAND. The use of molasses as a stock food received considerable attention during the recent dry weather in south-east-ern Queensland, when it was probably the most valuable and inexpensive carbohydrate concentrate available. Doubtless this by-product of the sugar industry could be employed much more extensively than at present, for it is Iraluable not only as an appetiser and conditioner, hut as a source of carbohydrate—a most essential energy food, says The Australasian. The sugar industry is able to supply millions of gallons of this material annually, the only drawback being the costs of freight involved in transporting it over long distances. There would be no difficulty in stock owners acquiring large consignments of molasses at £1 a ton at sugar mills, but come provision for containers would be necessary. It is of interest to point out, however, that experiments will shortly be made to determine the practicability Df preparing the material in a solid form. In this condition it would be more easily handled, while the cost of containers could probably be reduced substantially. During the last 18 months experiments have been conducted at the Mackay Sugar Experiment Station to determine the true value of molasses as a concentrated feed for farm horses. All animals at that station receive the following daily ration while in work:— Chaffed cane tops (chop chop) or panicum grass, 641 b.; molasses (heavy), 61b.; linseed meal, 31b. The chaffed cane tops supply portion of the nutrients as well as the bulk; the molasses provides the extra sugars, an energy material; -while linseed meal is an excellent source of protein. The farm horses have done particularly well on this ration, and at the conclusion of the 1936 harvesting season were in remarkably good condition. Farmers might well compare the costs of this ration with one involving more expensive grains. This is particularly the case in the sugar-cane areas.