A note on the use of molassed wood pulp as a substitute for farm roughages in experimental rations for dairy cattle

Abstract

In recent investigations at this Institute, attempts have been made to devise for dairy cows a ration extremely low in magnesium to be used in fundamental studies of magnesium metabolism. All common farm roughages are moderately rich in magnesium, and wood pulp, which is low in this element, has been tested as a roughage for use in these experimental rations. American workers (Titus, 1926; Mead & Goss, 1935; Byers, Stanbus, Nelson, Brown, Davis & Gardiner, 1955; Matrone, Ramsey & Wise, 1957; Smith, McLaren, Anderson, Welch & Campbell, 1957; Ellis & Pfander, 1958; Williams, Musgrave, Schul & MacVicar, 1958) have previously used wood pulp as a substitute for roughage in the development of purified rations for cattle and sheep, and it was fed extensively as a substitute farm feedingstuff in Norway during the war years (1940–44)(Edin, Helleday & Nordfelt, 1941; Hvidsten, 1946). This note records some observations on the feeding of wood pulp, often as the sole roughage, to both dry and milking cows.