EXAMINATION OF FEEDING STUFFS 131 



on these horizontal lines. Supposing it is desired to substitute two other feeding 

 stuffs (a pair) like dry yeast and dried potatoes for a single feeding stuff like, for 

 example, oats. All that is necessary to determine the amounts of each is to locate 

 the points of intersection of the coordinates (the ordinate and the abscissa) of the 

 feeding stuff index of one of the feeding stuffs of the combination sought and the 

 albumen index of the other of the feeding stuffs of the proposed combination. The 

 points of intersection of these two lines with the line indicating the feeding stuff 

 to be replaced indicate the amounts of the two substitutes which, together, have the 

 same starch value and the same content of digestible albumen as the feeding stuff 

 (oats) to be replaced. 



XIII. Examination or Inspection of Feeding Stuffs 

 Meal, Grits and Cake 



The value of a feeding stuff is determined by its purity, soundness and nutrient 

 content. The purity and soundness of soiling crops, roughage, root crops or of 

 whole grains are usually easily ascertained. The suggestions made along these 

 lines in the chapters on feeding stuffs and contaminations and admixtures will suffice 

 for this purpose. The nutrient content of these feeding stuffs may also be appro.xi- 

 mately estimated when the conditions of growth and manner of harvesting are 

 known. On the other hand, the estimation of the value, etc., of meal, grits, cake, etc., 

 may meet with greater difficulties. Our ordinary senses, sight, smell, taste and 

 feeling, are not sufficient for this purpose. It is rather necessary to resort to chem- 

 ical analysis and microscopical examination. In general, it would be a safe practice 

 not to purchase feeding stuffs that are sold under indefinite names, like Victoria 

 feed, blood concentrate, oatworth, calf meal, groats, or other meaningless terms. 

 As a rule the cost of these substances bears no definite relation to their actual value. 

 They frequently contain indigestible, spoiled, or low-grade material or even injurious 

 waste products. Even guaranties of protein and fat content do not protect against 

 fraud. Sometimes these products are almost entirely indigestible and consequently 

 vrorthless. Mahwa or bassia meal, for instance, which stock does not even like, 

 contains 27 per cent of crude protein and therefore appears rich in albumen and 

 valuable, but of the 27 per cent of crude protein present, less than 1 per cent con- 

 sists of digestible albumen. Cocoa shells, with 14 per cent of crude protein, contain 

 no digestible albumen whatever. Peanut hulls, millet shells, rice chaff, etc., all 

 belong to a class of feeding stuffs generally used but are, in reality, worthless filler. 



The nutrient contents are determined according to the methods given on page 3 

 and the following pages. As a rule, these determinations are made to the best advan- 

 tage by the agricultural experiment stations. 



General Rules for the Purchase of Commercial Feeding Stuffs 



The Feeding Stuff Section of the German Agricultural Society and the Associa- 

 tion of Agricultural Experiment Stations of the GeiTnan Empire have established 

 the following rules for the trade in feeding stuffs : 



1. Every sale shall be accompanied by a guaranty — (a) Of the exact nature of the 

 feeding stuff, its soundness and purity (freedom from foreign substances, inferior 

 material, indifferent or injurious admixtures not necessarily a part of the character 

 of feed indicated by the name). 



(b) Minimum content of the nutrients which determine its value. 



2. The guaranty shall be on paper, either in the foifm of a signed quotation, bill 

 of sale or invoice. Retail sales, under 200 pounds, shall be guaranteed by a special 

 written statement to the purchaser. The guaranty shall contain the name and char- 

 acter of the feeding stuff, guaranteed composition, origin (when this is an indica- 

 tion of definite quality), and furthermore, whether, and to what extent, reimburse- 

 ment will be made for deficiencies. 



Retail packages shall be marked on the container with a printed copy of the guar- 

 anty or by means of a glued label or a metal or paper tag attached to a certain 

 designated portion of the package. 



The labels or printed matter on the containers shall contain the name of the 

 dealer and his trade mark, weight of the package, name of the feeding stuff, 

 guaranteed chemical composition in unequivocal terms (fat, protein, etc.), the time 

 or date up to which adjustments will be made, the name of the experiment station 



