REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 
ANIMAL HUSBANDRY. 
THE PROPORTION OF ANIMAL FOOD IN THE RATION 
FOR DUCKLINGS.* 
W. P. WHEELER. 
SUMMARY. 
For growing ducklings rations which contained animal food 
have proved generally much superior to others of vegetable origin 
which had, according to the limited methods of estimation com- 
monly used, equal nutritive value. 
Results here reported were obtained in experiments made to 
learn how much animal food, in the prepared forms commonly 
found in the market, could be safely and effectively fed. 
Rations in which -these foods supplied 94 per ct. of the total 
dry matter and 98 per ct. of the protein were fed to ducklings 
without any apparent ill effects. : 
During the first few weeks, growth was more rapid and equal 
growth made for less food (even at a lower cost for food) under 
a ration in which 60 per ct. of the protein was obtained from 
animal food, than under rations having respectively 20, 40 and 
80 per cent. of the protein derived from this source. 
Later growth was made at somewhat more economical expendi- 
ture of food under the “20 per ct.” ration, but was slower. 
Under the rations containing larger proportions of animal food, 
marketable size was reached about two weeks sooner. 
Results on the whole favored the use for the first few weeks 
of the ration in which 60 per ct. of the protein came from animal 
* A reprint of Bulletin 259. 
