INSPECTION OF COMMERCIAL FEEDSTUFFS 



By Philip H. Smith i 



The past season has proved uneventful in the feed industry for conditions 

 pertaining to inspection and quality. While it is probably true that the importa- 

 tion of feeds has exceeded that of any preceding season, insofar as has been de- 

 termined they have been on a par with like products of domestic origin. The 

 chief problem has been to secure proper registration of importations. There is 

 no good reason why importers should not register when they sell in direct com- 

 petition with domestic producers who comply with the statute in every particular. 



The Massachusetts Control Service has not as yet been able to attack the 

 problems presented through the sale of cod liver oil and other vitamin carriers. 

 A start has been made in the partial equipment of a biological laboratory. Just 

 how far the project can be carried will depend upon money made available with 

 which to carry on the work. 



In an attempt to answer some of the inquiries received for information about 

 canned dog foods, twenty-five of the brands commonly sold in Massachusetts 

 were collected and analyzed. The results appear elsewhere in this bulletin. 



Of the 1,651 samples of feeding stuffs collected, 73, or 4.4 per cent, are listed 

 as varying from guaranteed analysis. Variations of less than one per cent below 

 minimum guarantee in protein and fat or of less than one per cent above max- 

 imum guarantee of fiber are not tabulated in the table of deficiencies. The rate 

 of deficiencies as reported in the last bulletin was 5.9 per cent. It is probably 

 true that most of the deficiencies occur not because of intent to defraud, but 

 rather because of lack of proper chemical control of operations. 



During the past year 1,021 brands of feed have been registered for sale by 212 

 manufacturers and dealers; 1,651 samples of feeding stuffs have been collected 

 and subjected to analysis; 178 dealers located in 105 towns have been visited 

 by the feed inspector at least once. 



'The foilowing staff members assisted in the inspection: Albert F. Spelman and John W. 

 Kuzmeski, Chemists; Frederick A. McLaughlin, Microscopist; James T. Howard, Inspector; 

 Cora B. Grover, Clerk. 



