29 

 LOW-GRADE FEEDS. 



BY J. B. LINDSEY. 



The question is frequently asked why the station does not prohibit the 

 sale of low-grade feeding materials. The feeding stuffs law says that "No 

 commercial feeding stuff or cattle feed or brand thereof that has been mixed 

 or adulterated with any substance or substances injurious to the health of 

 live stock or poultry shall be sold or offered or exposed or kept for sale or 

 distributed in this Commonwealth." Rarely is any material offered which 

 is actually injurious to the health of animals. Many feeds are placed upon 

 the market which have a low or inferior feeding value, and the best we can 

 do is to call attention to this fact in our inspection bulletins. It is doubtful 

 if it would be constitutional to make a law which would actually prohibit the 

 sale of material which possessed some feeding value. Thus far it has seemed 

 wise to require that each feeding stuff be accompanied by an analysis of 

 composition and, in case of mixtures, to require in addition a statement of 

 the specific name of each ingredient they contain. These requirements are 

 already incorporated in our Massachusetts law. An additional clause might 

 be added that the sale of materials without substantial feeding value should 

 be prohibited, specifying perhaps the name of each objectionable article, 

 such as coffee hulls, rice hulls, ground cotton screenings and the like. It is 

 diflficult, however, to draw the line between "some feeding value" and "with- 

 out substantial feeding value" to cover all cases likely to be encountered. 

 A relentless publicity has been found to be very helpful in keeping out most 

 inferior materials. If the purchaser keeps informed and asks for information 

 when in doubt, he is not likely to be deceived. 



