INSPECTION OF COiMiMERCIAL FEEDSTUFFS 



By Feed Control Service Staff 



John \V. Kii/mcski. Research Professor, Official Chemist 



Albert F. Spclman. Associate Research Professor 



C. Tyson Smith; Associate Research Professor, Microscopis 



Bertram Gcrslen. Assistant ResearJi Professor 



David F. Owen, Jr., Research Instructor 



Sliirley J. Rictiards. Research Instructor 



Joseph Conklin, Inspector 



Edward F. Vlach, Technical Assistant 



Paul Korpita, Laboratory Assiiant 



Doris A. Kennedy, Senior Clerk-SteiioRrapher 



INTRODUCTION 



The Massachusrlts Feed Control Service, as are the feed control services of other 

 ites. is called upon to analyze a variety of materials used as feed. Farmers send in 

 mples of home-mixed feed, stale bread, bakery waste, silage hay, etc. These are 

 alvzed, and the results usually reported lo the proper College of Agriculture 

 ecialists who make recommendations for the most efficient use of such products 

 the farmer's feeding program. 



The above are feeds that do not come under the provisions of the Massachusetts 

 ed Law. 



The procedure is entirely diifennt when requests are received for the analysis 

 registered commercial feeds. 



If there i:-, anv question regarding the quality of a registered feed, the amount of 

 aranteed ingredients present, or suspected toxicity of the feed, an analysis of a 

 •nple submitted by the farmer serves no useful purpose. The analytical report on 

 ch a sample has no legal status. 



In such cases the Feed Control Service's inspector is sent to get an official sample, 

 sickness of livestock or a sudden drop in production is involved, extensive analyses 

 feeds are made only at the recommendation of veterinarians or qualified feed 

 tritionists. 



Whenever a lot of feed comes under reasonable suspicion as the cause of trouble, 

 farmer should set aside at least five unopened bags, with tags intact, for subse- 

 ent sampling by the official inspector. 



It should be an elementary precaution on the farmer's part to consult a v^terin- 

 an or poultry pathologist at the first sign of sickness in his herd or flock. If the 

 d is suspected, the manufacturer or dealer should make sure that the proper 

 cialist is called promptl/. Enough feed should be retained for an official sample 

 ;n if the remainder of the lot is replaced by a new shipment. The Feed Control 

 rvice should b.^ notified immediately if the farmer's suspicion of the feed is con- 

 ned by the disease specialist or nutritionist. 



[u outlining the above procedure it is taken for granted that the feed manufac- 

 'er is aware of his responsibility to his customers, and will cooperate fully with 



: control official in his effort to establish whether or not the feed is at fault and, 



t is, what corrective action should hr taken. 



