314 ANNUAL. REPORT OF THE Oft. Doc. 



experiment with the Asiatic, American and Mediterranean classes, a 

 pen of Leghorns receiving a ration with nutritive ratio of one to 

 five, gave a profit of |33.8S over a similar pen fed a ration of one 

 to eleven. The cost of producing a dozen eggs with the narrow 

 ration was 5.4 cents, and with the wide ration 10 cents. The aver- 

 age weight of 100 eggs from the narrow ration pen was 12.08 

 pounds, and from the wide ration 11.94 pounds. Dividing the period 

 of this experiment, the pen receiving the narrow ration gained 51 

 pounds, while the fowls receiving the wide ration lost 40 pounds, a 

 total of 91 pounds in favor of the narrow ration. 



Corn is the most highly digestible of the grain feeds, and is gener- 

 ally the cheapest. Besides, it is exceeding palatable. It, therefore, 

 forms the basis of our ration. The peculiar effect of a corn diet 

 upon the egg yield leads many thoughtless and short-sighted people 

 astray, and even some of the scientific men have been deceived 

 thereby. Milk causes the fowls to consume more feed, hence, has 

 both a direct and an indirect feeding value. This is very well 

 proven by recent experiments at the Indiana Experiment Station, 

 particularly with regard to growing chickens. In our own experi- 

 ence, when the milk was taken away, the egg yield was decreased 

 far out of proportion to the food value of the milk. At prevailing 

 prices, animal or beef meat is one of the cheapest poultry foods, 

 and we find it profitable to feed it quite liberally. It is part of 

 economy and convenience to feed a mash throughout the year. The 

 by-product feeding stuffs are cheaper than whole grains. They also 

 help to get the desired narrow ration. A mash often renders un- 

 palatable foods palatable. The mash is fed in the evening to give 

 the hens increased appetite; to secure exercise of Ihe hens in the 

 morning, and on account of convenience; theoretically, a ration 

 composed of 125 pounds of corn, 100 pounds of corn meal, 50 pounds 

 of animal meal and 50 pounds of alfalfa meal would be a first-class 

 egg ration. It would be highly digestible, palatable and contains 

 food in three forms. Probably, on the average farm, there would be 

 serious objection to such a ration. We have been able to get the 

 greatest profit by feeding a highly concentrated ration, approach- 

 ing closely the danger line. Not all hens will stand this high feed- 

 ing, but the loss sustained from the few that succumb is more than 

 made up by the increased egg yield. Feed highly, market the hens 

 at an early age and replace with others. 



The teeth of a cow or other farm animal are important factors 

 in determining profit. Sharp grit is the hen's teeth. Hens without 

 sharp grit allow a sufficient portion of their food to pass undigested 

 to greatly reduce the profit. We have little use for condimental 

 and patent foods. While these foods may possess some value, their 



