872 



Journal of Agricultural Research 



Vol. XX, No. ii 



FECES NITROGEN 



A study of the nitrogen of the feces was made to note if any increased 

 utilization or change in the nature of the nitrogen end products could be 

 obtained because of the added compounds. The data from composite 

 samples of the feces taken from the different lots are contained in 

 Table II. 



Table II.- — Amount and distribution of feces nitrogen 



" Urea, ammonia, and amino acid nitrogen. 



b Uric acid and residual nitrogen. 



DISCUSSION 



Table I gives the results of the different rations outlined, including 

 such factors as green feed, antiseptics, fiber, exercise, and their effect 

 upon and mortality of the chicks. When the gain in weight and mor- 

 tality of the different lots are considered, a few points stand out promi- 

 nently and are suggestive as being worthy of further investigation. 



The most important of these is the effectiveness of copper sulphate in 

 preventing mortality, probably because of its well-known antiseptic 

 properties. Since an antiseptic seems to be so effective, it adds addi- 

 tional evidence that one of the main causes of mortality of chicks grown 

 in confinement is the intestinal putrefaction so often noticed in the 

 autopsy of chicks. Sprouted oats is thought by some to be effective in 

 lessening mortality, especially when fed for a short time only and when 

 given as a supplement to a somewhat monotonous ration. It is possible 

 that under the conditions of the experiment no benefit was obtained from 

 its use with growing chicks when fed throughout the first 14 weeks of 

 the growing period. Lots No. 11, 12, 13, and 14 noted in Table I include 

 unpublished data obtained in previous experiments which are introduced 

 here as further evidence of the ineffectiveness of greens in preventing 

 chick mortality. 



The sulphur received by lot 8 caused a continued looseness of bowels. 

 This did not seem to have any ill effect and may have been of some 

 advantage, since at 8 weeks of age this was one of the best lots. The 

 retarding effect of tobacco was pronounced and resulted in stunting the 

 growth during the first 8 weeks. There was a tendency for the chicks to 



