INSPECTION OF COMMERCIAL FEEDSTUFFS 

 By Philip H. Smith' 



During the past year 1,124 brands of feed have been registered for sale by 

 216 manufacturers and dealers; 1,791 samples of feeding stuffs have been 

 collected and subjected to analysis; 158 dealers, located in 96 towns, have 

 been visited by the feed inspector at least once. 



It is to be doubted if a clear understanding of the relation of Feedstuff 

 Control to the purchaser of commercial feeds always exists. The statute sets 

 up definite requirements in relation to a guarantee which must be attached to 

 every lot or parcel of feed offered for sale. The principal duty of the feed 

 control official is to prove whether or not the guarantee conforms to the content 

 of the sack to which it is attached. Past experience has shown that at least 

 95 percent of the feeding stuffs offered for sale in the Massachusetts markets 

 conform to guarantee. Deficiencies in the remaining 5 percent are in most 

 instances so slight as not to warrant prosecution. About all that Control 

 Service can do is to present in tabulated form the results of inspection and in 

 cases of flagrant violation to prosecute the violators. The fact that a feeding 

 stuff carries and conforms to its guarantee does not prove that it is suitable 

 for the use of every feeder. A careful perusal of the guarantee should be the 

 initial step in the purchase of a feed. The law does not prevent the use of any 

 material having food value, no matter how slight, so long as it is not actually 

 injurious to the animal or fowl fed. From the list of guaranteed ingredients 

 note carefully the presence of screenings or other low grade milling offals; 

 also if material is present which supposedly carries essential vitamins and 

 mineral ingredients. There have been on the market certain feeds made of 

 high grade oil cakes brought down to a 20 percent protein level by low grade 

 milling offal which in certain instances have sold for as much as $10 a ton less 

 than the average of better feeds of the same protein level — a doubtful bargain. 

 These feeds conform to the feeding stuffs act in every way, even to stating the 

 ingredients used. This information is there for the use of the purchaser. Why 

 not use it? 



The requirements of feeding stuffs acts have not kept pace with scientific 

 progress in the practice of feeding. Guarantees do, however, require the pre- 

 sentation of basic information of value to the purchaser in forming an intelli- 

 gent opinion of the value of a commercial feed for his particular needs. 



'The following 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. 



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