570 APPENDIX 



Wheat 100 lbs. 



Cracked corn 100 lbs. 



Clipped oats 100 lbs. 



This grain ration has a nutritive ratio of 1 to 8.2. The amount of grain 

 fed was determined by the amount of mash consumed, by the age and weight 

 of the birds and the amount of production. 



As a result of the experimental feeding carried on at the Vineland Contest, 

 which has since been verified at many other Stations and feeding demonstra- 

 tions, our old beliefs regarding the amounts of mash and grain to feed are 

 open to serious question. 



\A'here the older practice was to feed from two parts of grain to one of 

 mash down to possibly equal parts of each, recent results seem to show that 

 greater amounts of mash than grain is the better practice. 



Recent tests in New Jersey emphasize the value of the following rule: 



Pullets which have just been placed in laying quarters in the fall should 

 receive about 2 parts of grain to one of mash until early winter, when the 

 amount of grain should be gradually reduced until they are eating equal parts 

 of grain and mash, which proportions should continue throughout the late 

 winter and spring months. About the first of June the amount of grain should 

 be gradually still further restricted until in August they may be getting as 

 much as four parts of mash to one of grain, this ratio being continued until 

 late October, when the amount of grain can well be increased until they receive 

 about two parts of mash to one of grain. 



Feeding increased amounts of mash cheapens the total ration, for the 

 by-products are cheaper than the whole grains. It also increases egg produc- 

 tion, for the mash is the heavy protein feed. Furthermore, the feeding of 

 increased amounts of mash in middle and late summer helps to hold up produc- 

 tion when the general tendency of birds is to fall off at this period. 



Increased consumption of mash can be induced by restricting the amount 

 of grain fed. Birds will balance their own ration if allowed access to a mash 

 hopper. See that they are compelled to eat plenty of mash by withholding 

 the grain. 



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