223 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



4 GEORGE V., A. 1914 



wheat from the drier soil proved on analysis to be the richer in protein by 1-61 per 

 cent. 



Detailed discussion of these data in relation to climatic conditions prevailing 

 during the growing season will be deferred until a further report, when additional 

 results upon this interesting subject will afford a better ground for a final pronounce- 

 ment. 



FODDERS AND FEEDING STUFFS. 



The nutritive value of the various feeds upon the market is a matter well worthy 

 of study by the farmer and dairyman, and especially so in these days of high prices. 

 Profit in feeding depends to a large extent upon economical buying of the ' concen- 

 trates ' to supplement the home-grown feeds and fodders, and economical buying is 

 not merely a matter of price. There are many high-priced feeds well worth the 

 money asked for them, by reason of their richness in protein and fat; on the other 

 hand, there are cheap feeds that are in reality very dear, simply because they contain 

 little protein and fat and are overloaded with a superabundance of indigestible fibre. 

 The farmer has necessarily familiarized himself with a number of feeds — such as 

 bran and shorts — and feels himself fairly competent to decide as to the quality of 

 any strinple of such feeding stuff that may be offered him. But there are many by- 

 products on the market to-day which cannot be judged simply from their appearance, 

 or respecting which he has had no experience. For the value of these he must look 

 to the chemist; in other words, he must know, approximately, their percentage of 

 protein and fat and whether they contain little or much indigestible fibre. To furnish 

 this information and at the same time protect the purchaser from fraud, the Com- 

 mercial Feeding Stuffs Act was passed in 1908. This Act, under the operation of the 

 Inland Revenue Department, requires that feeds offered for sale (with certain excep- 

 tions, such as bran, middlings, hay, straw, roots, the mixed or unmixed meals made 

 directly from entire grain, and a few others) shall be duly registered and shall bear 

 a label or statement attached to the package giving the registration number and a 

 guaranteed analysis in terms of its minimum content of protein and fat and its 

 maximum content of fibre. The enforcement of this Act has undoubtedly had a salu- 

 tary effect in keeping many of the more worthless feeds off the market, but the educa- 

 tional value of the Act might be increased by a keener appreciation of its teachings 

 on the part of those for whom it was passed. Every purchaser of a feeding stuff 

 coming within the jurisdiction of the Act should see that the material bears a label 

 or brand with registration number and guaranteed analysis inscribed thereon. He 

 should then study the analysis, comparing it with that of other feeds that are avail- 

 able, so that he may be in a position, knowing their respective prices per ton, to 

 make a judicious selection. , 



This official examination and control of feeding stuffs by the Inland Revenue 

 Department has relieved the Experimental Farm laboratories of much analytical 

 work; nevertheless, we still find it desirable from one reason or another to submit 

 certain feeding materials to examination. During the year, the data given in the 

 sub-joined table have been obtained. The feeds tabulated have been used in experi- 

 mental stock feeding in the Central Farm, or are those respecting which information 

 was specially desired 



Barley and oats. — Both of these cereals are highly esteemed for farm stock; oats 

 finding their chief use in horse feeding, while barley is more commonly employed 

 for dairy cows and swine. The average composition of the two grains may be given, 

 for the purposes of comparison, though it should be pointed out that not only are 

 both variable but that both are very susceptible as regards protein-content to climatic 



