82 AMERICAN SQUAB CULTURE 



To illustrate: If a feed stuff contains 15 per cent protein, 4 per 

 cent fats, 70 per cent carbohydrates, and 3 per cent crude fiber. 

 The percentage of fats, 4, multiplied by 2^4 gives 9, to which 

 product is added the sum of the percentages of carbo-hydrates 

 and crude fiber. Seventy and 3, gives 82, which, divided by the 

 percentage of protein, 15, gives a nutritive ratio of 1:5.5, nearly, 

 a very fine ratio for pigeons, by the way. 



The percentage of fat is multiplied by 2^ times as much 

 nourishment as the same percentage of carbohydrates and crude 

 fiber combined. 



Ash 



Ash is the material left after the consumption of a feed stuff 

 with fire, and consists chiefly of lime, magnesia, potash, soda, 

 iron, chlorin, and carbonic, sulphuric, and phosphoric acids — 

 substances largely used in the formation of bones. As a rule 

 a ration composed of a variety of feeds contains sufficient ash, 

 or mineral, to supply the body of animals, but this is not 

 altogether true with that of poultry and pigeons. They must 

 be supplied with a good health grit. 



Corn is very deficient in ash, and when fed alone to pigeons, 

 it becomes necessary to add ash materials, such as are contained 

 in the specially prepared pigeon health grits, composed, usually, 

 of granite grit, sharp sand, ground shells, salt, charcoal, and 

 other ingredients containing medicinal properties, to assist in 

 grinding the food in the crop, in making egg shell, and in 

 addition thereto to assist in keeping the l)ody in a good, thrifty, 

 healthy condition; and the addition of ash in the materials men- 

 tioned is of the utmost importance to pigeons in confinement. 



Com is good feed, as com is usually the most plentiful of 

 feeds, but, being largely composed of carbohydrates and fats, 

 it cannot be safely fed alone to animals, poultry, or pigeons, 

 because it is deficient in some of the most important elements 

 necessary for the maintenance of the body, as protein and ash. 



Protein 



Protein in food is that constituent, or nutrient, that forms 

 lean flesh, muscle, ligaments, hair, wool, feathers, most of the 

 internal organs, and other portions of the body, and is most 

 important food to be fed, as well as being the most expensive. 

 It furnishes material for flesh and replaces the wear and tear 



