FOODS ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 277 



feeds. In addition all the lots were fed green alfalfa, oyster shells, 

 and grit. The composition of the feeding stuffs used in this and the 

 following test is reported, as well as the amount of feed consumed, 

 the gain in weight, and similar data. A number of chickens were 

 removed from the different lots during the test. At the close of the 

 test, which covered 8 to 16i weeks, the average weight of the chickens 

 fed the ration containing animal food was 2.46 lbs., of those fed the 

 vegetable food 1.94 lbs., 23 per cent more food being required per 

 pound of gain bj^ the latter. 



The 2 rations wore tested with 2 lots of some 26 Pekin ducks 1 week 

 old at the beginning of the test, which covered 10 weeks. After the 

 first month the ration fed lot 2 (vegetable food) was changed, as it 

 was evident that it "was very deficient in some respect, for before the 

 end of the fourth week one-half of all the birds in lot 2 had died." 

 For 2 weeks animal meal was added to the feed and then the original 

 ration was resumed. Only 1 duck died after the change. At the 

 close of the test the average weight of the ducklings fed animal meal 

 throughout the test was 5.9 lbs., of those fed the contrasted ration 5. 5 

 lbs., 2.6 lbs. of dry matter being required per pound of gain with the 

 former lot and 6 lbs. with the latter. The cost of a pound of gain in 

 the 2 lots was 2.7 and 10.1 cts., respectively. It is said that the prin- 

 cipal advantage of animal food was rapid growth and early maturity, 

 rather than ultimate size. 



Four lots of 11 and 15 pullets were fed the contrasted ration for 

 about 200 days. The lots fed the ration containing animal food pro- 

 duced more eggs than those fed the vegetable food and less dry mat- 

 ter was required per pound of egg. The relative fertility of the eggs 

 from the hens fed the different rations was also tested. In general 

 the more fertile eggs were obtained from the lots fed the animal food. 

 This point was further tested with 2 lots of two-year-old hens fed the 

 contrasted ration. Little difference was found in the character of the 

 eggs. 



The second series of tests was made under conditions similar to those 

 mentioned above, except that the ration of vegetable food was supple- 

 mented by bone ash, the object being to learn whether the small gains 

 made on vegetable food were due to a deficiency in the ash constitu- 

 ents. As finalh' agreed upon, the contrasted rations had practicall}^ 

 the same proximate composition. Six lots of from 61 to 99 chickens 

 1 week old at the beginning of the test were fed for 11 weeks. The 

 average weight of the chickens fed the contrasted rations was practi- 

 cally the same at the close of the test, ranging from 1.1 to 1.7 lbs. In 

 every case the chickens fed the ration containing the animal food 

 required on an average about 13 per cent more food per pound of gain. 



The 2 rations were further tested with 2 lots of about 30 Pekin ducks 

 a little over a week old at the beginning of the test, which covered 9 



