ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 187 



experiment with steers fed rice bran and rice polish. The digestion experiments 

 with steers and some of the analyses have been noted from another publication ( E. 

 S. R., 15, p. 288), though in the present instance the data regarding the digestion 

 experiments are more detailed. 



The author points out the fact that rice hulls contain a high percentage of woody 

 matter and insoluble silica, which has a detrimental effect on their feeding value, 

 the sharp silica particles often causing irritation of the delicate membranes lining the 

 digestive tract. The need of establishing a standard for rice bran is spoken of. 



"Judging from the results of reliable analyses, rice bran should contain at least 12 

 per cent protein ami 12 per cent fat, though an excessive amount of grits or broken 

 rice might reduce these figures. In fixing a standard more stress should be laid, 

 therefore, upon the maximum of fiber and ash. Rice bran exceeding 10 percent 

 fiber or 9 per cent ash should be regarded with suspicion. These limits are suggested, 

 however, only tentatively, as the analyses of many samples from different mills are 

 necessary before a standard can be fixed." 



Rice bran and rice polish commonly contain grits or broken rice screenings in 

 varying amounts. Judged by composition these grains have a high feeding value, 

 but the author points out that many of the broken grains pass through the animal 

 undigested. 



"These fragments of rice are very hard to break up and are not easily affected by 

 the digestive juices of the animal. Nearly 10 per cent of the dry matter in the excre- 

 ment of an animal fed with polish consisted of undigested <_ r rits. If these grits could 

 be ground up, or if they could be removed during milling, the digestibility of the 

 feed would be increased." 



Rice feeds are frequently found to be unpalatable owing to the development of 

 rancidity. A number of determinations w< ~> made of the free fatty acids in oil from 

 rice products. The amount reported varies from 6.9 per cent in oil from raw rice to 

 83.5 per cent in oil from very rancid rice bran. "The unheated bran turned very 

 rancid; this change went on very slowly in the heated sample, and the slight increase 

 observed was due probably to the natural oxidation which all oils and fats undergo 

 on exposure to the air." The author recommends heating rice bran as a pre- 

 ventive of rancidity. 



"If our millers could subject their bran as soon as it is made to a dry heat of 200 

 degrees Fahrenheit, or even higher, as is done sometimes in the kiln drying of various 

 feeds, and then press the material into cake form, we believe all dangers of rancidity 

 would be removed." 



Another method for the prevention of rancidity which is proposed consists in the 

 removal of a part of the oil. This the author believes would be advantageous as the 

 percentage of fat is quite large and the oil would have a commercial value. Fur- 

 thermore, the removal of the oil would perhaps counteract the laxative effects which 

 have been noted when animals are fed large amounts of rice bran. 



The milling of rice, feeding of rice products to farm animals, the fertilizing value 

 of rice products, and other topics are also discussed. 



The composition of Texas cotton-seed meal, H. H. Harrixgton and G. S. 

 Fkaps (Texas Sin. Bui. 70, pp. 15, maps 2). — The value of cotton-seed products is dis- 

 cussed, a list of Texas cotton-seed oil mills is^given, and data regarding the composi- 

 tion of Texas cotton-seed meals reported. 



"Of 46 samples of Texas meals tested, 33 contained over 7.5 per cent of nitrogen, 

 while of 151 samples of meal examined in 9 other States only 8 contained over 7.5 

 per cent nitrogen. 



"Texas cotton-seed meals on the average are richer in nitrogen than meal from 

 other sections, and, therefore, should have a higher commercial value. 



"The meals richest in nitrogen come from the western part of the State; those 



8405— No. 2—04 6 



