52 



Alfalfa meals are extensively used as a substi- 

 Alfalfa Meals. stute for green feed in the poultry ration. The 

 Page 37. higher the protein and the lower the fiber the 



more valuable is the product. Poultrymen 

 can frequently provide cheaper sources of green material in the 

 form of dried young clover or lawn clippings, cabbages, sugar 

 beets and mangels. 



The poultryman who prefers to purchase his 

 Poultry Mashes feeds ready mixed will have no trouble in making 

 and Meals. a selection from the large number of brands 

 Pages 38-42. offered. Preference should be given to those 

 brands that do not contain grits, lime or other 

 inorganic material which can be purchased much cheaper than 

 at grain prices. The large poultryman can usually prepare his 

 own mash cheaper than he can purchase many of the proprietary 

 articles. The samples collected showed a wide range in chemical 

 composition. Our knowledge of poultry nutrients is not suffi- 

 cient to justify one in making any particularly critical remarks. It 

 maybe said in a general waythat mixtures containing about 12 to 15 

 per cent of protein, some 5 per cent of fat and ash, and not over 

 5 per cent, of fiber, coupled with the desired palatability, should 

 prove satisfactory. When growth and egg production are desired, 

 extra protein and mineral matter must be supplied in the form 

 of animal matter, bone and shells. Special skill in handling the 

 flock is fully as important as the character of the feeds supplied, 



COMPLETE FODDER ANALYSES (Averages). 



Up to the present time only the protein, fat and fiber deter- 

 minations have been made on the feeding stuff samples collected, 

 in order to determine if they conformed to their guarantees as 

 required by the Massachusetts feeding stuff law. Owing to the >. 



demand for a complete fodder analyses on many of the feeds we 

 have this year made complete analyses in many cases and the 

 results follow. Some feeds manufactured and sold by the retailer 

 are not included as they have simply local interest. Another 

 year, if time permits, these analyses will also be made and published , 



as well as the analyses of some of the more important brands ^ 



of the straight by-products now included in a general average. 

 It is probably unnecessary to discuss each brand of feed in detail. * 



The purchaser will do well, however, to study the following table £ 



in connection with the certified ingredients found in the preceding 

 tables, and compare the data with the prices asked by the retailer. 



There is no valid reason why as much should be asked for > 



feeds containing oat hulls, screenings and other low-grade | 



