210 PRACTICE OF POULTRY FEEDING 



narrow, and is balanced for the feeding for some highlj^ nitrogenous 

 product. 



Rations must Contain Succulence and he Palatable. — The ration 

 as compounded must supply to the birds an abundance of succulent 

 material. If not present under natural conditions, it will rje neces- 

 sary to supply it daily from an artificial source for at least one 

 feeding. Where the birds have free range and an abundance of 

 green grass, artificial sources are not necessary. In the winter, 

 sprouted oats, mangel beets and cabbage, one or all, may be 

 economically used. In the summer the feeding of green crops 

 either by soiling methods or pasture should be largely depended 

 upon, according to area and character of the range. 



The palatability of the rations should not be overlooked, for 

 if the birds do not like a ration it usually means that they will 

 not consume a sufficient amount to supply their needs. The 

 natural craving for a good ration will increase the amount con- 

 sumed. In most cases the digestibility of a ration is increased by 

 being palatable, because secretion of digestive juices is increased. 

 Variety is an important factor in palatability. 



Sufficient Bulk. — Rations that are too concentrated should 

 be avoided. When consumed they do not distend the digestive 

 organs enough to allow a thorough mixing with the digestive 

 juices. The feed is insufficiently digested, resulting in a tendency 

 to produce diarrhoea and other disorders. Such materials as 

 wheat bran, short-cut alfalfa, ground oats, and others, when added 

 to a dry mash, increase bulk and make it more digestible than 

 if the ration is composed of only middlings, corn meal, gluten, 

 and meat scrap. 



There is a possibility, on the other hand, of having a ration 

 too bulky, so that it will be necessary for the birds to consume 

 extremely large amounts in order to get the required amount of 

 digestible nutrients. The bulky materials added usually contain 

 much fibre with little nutritive value. Care must be exercised in 

 the preparation of rations to have them of proper bulk. 



Economical but not Cheap. — The cheapest feeds which can be 

 purchased are not always the most economical. For instance, 

 100 pounds of meat scrap analyzing 40 per cent protein can now 

 be purchased for $50 a ton, and meat scrap purchased for $60 a 

 ton usually analyzes 60 per cent protein. If the low-grade meat 

 scrap is purchased, the poultryman pays $6.25 for every hundred 

 pounds of protein, whereas for the high-grade meat he would paj^ 



