38 Report of Department of Animal Husbandry of the 



The addition of the ground rock to rations without animal food 

 resulted in more rapid growth and more efficient use of food than the 

 addition of sand alone. 



The addition of ground rock phosphate to rations both with and 

 without animal food was followed by better growth, and on the whole 

 from less food, than the addition of finely ground oyster shell. 



Food mixed with finely ground oyster shell was less healthful and 

 less efficient than the same food mixed with fine sand. 



Mixing bone ash and ground oyster shell in the food resulted in 

 more rapid growth than the mixing of sand alone. But injury 

 attributed to ground oyster shell made the feeding less profitable. 



INTRODUCTION. 



In the feeding of animals the mineral nutriments have not always 

 been given consideration. Although their importance has been recog- 

 nized, but little practical disadvantage came from the usual neglect 

 to consider them. For most purposes so far as we know, the common 

 foods carry enough of the ash constituents. Sometimes for rapidly 

 growing young they do not. 



But in feeding poultry the supply of mineral matter must usually 

 be considered. It constitutes over 35 per ct. of the total dry matter 

 of the egg, and the growth of the young is retarded when there is an 

 insufficient supply. 



While less than 10 per ct. of the body of the fowl would be left 

 in the ash, this body, including the bony framework, is very rapidly 

 formed. The young of most birds grow very fast. Chickens often 

 show a gain in weight of over 1500 per ct, during the first ten 

 weeks, and at times ducklings increase in weight from 50 to 100 per 

 ct. a week. 



With such rapid transformation it is very important that no essen- 

 tial material should be lacking in the food. If it must be obtained 

 by too slow accumulations the normal growth is retarded. Growth 



