272 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECOED. 



more expensive than corn unless in a section of the country where they can be 

 bought or produced much more cheaply than at the commercial centers. 



The digestion coefficients of the different feeds are given in the following 

 table : 



Average of the digestion coefficients obtained with pant try- 



Kind of feed. 



Wheat bran (coarse) 



Corn (whole) 



Corn (cracked) 



Corn meal 



Corn meal and clover, 1:1 



Clover, calculated 



Corn meal and beef scrap, 1:1 



Beef scrap, calculated 



Corn meal and beef scrap, 1:1 



India wheat 



Oats (whole) 



Oats (rolled) 



Wheat (hard) 



Wheat (soft) 



3,000 gm. bran, 1,125 gm. corn meal, 1,125 

 gm. gluten feed, fiOO gm. beef scrap 



200 gm. bran, 100 gm. corn meal, 50 gm. 

 linseed meal, 40 gm. beef scrap 



200 gm. bran, 50 gm. corn meal, 50 gm. 

 linseed meal, 100 gm. gluten feed 



200 gm. bran, 50 gm. corn meal, 50 gm. lin- 

 seed meal, 100 gm. gluten feed, bone ash 



Number 

 of experi- 

 ments. 



Organic 

 matter. 



Per cent. 

 46.7 

 86.6 

 83.3 

 83.1 

 56.4 

 27.7 

 82.1 

 80.2 

 87.0 

 72.7 

 60.6 

 89.3 

 81.8 

 81.8 



51.3 



51.4 



42.3 



46.9 



Protein. 



Per cent. 

 71.7 

 08.3 

 72.2 

 74.6 

 71.5 

 70.6 

 90.0 

 92.6 

 81.5 

 75.0 

 78.2 

 80.1 

 71.3 

 74.4 



78.6 



78.6 



75.8 



79.0 



Fat. 



Per cent. 

 37.0 

 87.0 

 87.1 



87.0 

 66. 9 

 35.5 

 95.0 

 95.6 

 91.5 

 83.8 

 85.6 

 92.2 

 56.9 

 54.4 



74.8 



78.5 



68.7 



68.8 



Nitrogen- 

 free ex- 

 tract. 



Per cent. 

 46.0 

 91.6 

 88.1 

 86.0 

 61.6 

 14.3 

 75.8 



90.5 

 83.4 

 64.1 

 94.3 



80.8 



51.4 

 46.7 

 37.8 

 45.3 



Crude 

 fiber. 



Per cent. 

 13.5 



10.4 

 10.4 



20.9 



There are references to other literature on the subject, and a table has been 

 prepared showing the average digestion coeflicieut obtained with poultry by 

 other investigators. 



Seven methods of feeding young chickens, J. E. Rice and Clara Nixon 

 (New York Cornell Sta. Bui. 2S2, pp. Jil5-.'i62, figs. 25).— The purpose of this 

 experiment was to test the efficiency of chick rearing by 7 different methods of 

 rations and methods of feeding. The eggs used were from vigorous, mature 

 single comb white Leghorn stock on free range. The methods of incubating 

 and brooding are described. 



The cost of rearing the different flocks of chicks for the first 6 weeks is given 

 in the following table : 



Average gain and cost of feeding chicks the first 6 iceeks hg different methods. 



Ration. 



Cracked grain and bran 



Cracked grain 



Cracked grain, dry mash. . 



Dry mash 



Wet mash, powdered milk 



Wet mash, skim milk 



Variety ration 



Number 

 of chicks 

 in experi- 

 ment. 



110 

 110 

 110 

 110 

 110 

 110 

 110 



Number 

 of chicks 

 at end of 

 6 weeks. 



90 

 85 

 97 

 94 

 106 

 102 

 110 



Average Total 

 weight of amount of 

 chicks at food con 

 6 weeks, sumed 



Pounds. 

 0.370 

 .375 

 .343 

 .345 

 .542 

 .511 

 .503 



Pounds. 

 129.73 

 125. 88 

 166. 13 

 167. 56 

 193. 91 

 232. 93 

 196. 57 



Cost per 

 pound 

 gain. 



.100 

 .173 

 .193 

 .190 

 .115 

 .123 

 .117 



Cost 

 of food 

 per 100 

 chicks. 



$2. 940 

 3.228 

 3.589 

 3.00S 

 3.805 

 3.725 

 3.571 



Cost of 

 labor 

 per 100 

 chicks. 



11.423 

 1.507 

 1.320 

 1.362 

 1.505 

 1.565 

 1.464 



•' Considering the number of chicks reared, the vigor of the chicks, and the 

 continued palatability of the ration, the variety ration gave best results for the 

 first 6 weeks. In total weight of flock, average weight of chicks, rapid growth 

 and development, cost per pound gain and per pound weight, the wet mash- 

 powdered milk ration gave best results. In feeding the wet mash rations and 



