28 



Poultry Feeds. 

 Alfalfa Meal. 



The three samples of alfalfa meal collected were of normal quality. Its nutritive 

 value in the poultry ration is not great in the dry state, as it is not readily digested on 

 account of its high fiber content, neither is it well relished by poultry. It may, how- 

 ever, form a source of "vitamines," — certain unknown chemical substances which 

 recent experiments have shown to be necessary in the diet. It is believed, however, 

 that preference should be given to uncured crops, such as cabbage, mangels, green 

 grass, sprouted oats or other leafy material. 



Poultry Mashes and Meals. 



The chief advantage of the prepared poultry mashes is that they are intended to 

 furnish in convenient form all of the material that the poultryman may wish to feed in 

 a mash and obviate the trouble of assembling and mixing the various ingredients. 

 A reasonable objection to them is that the successful feeder may wish at different 

 seasons and under different conditions to vary the material fed, which he is unable to 

 do when a ready mixed mash is used. 



In any event, the purchaser should look closely to the list of ingredients, as guar- 

 anteed, and not be too greatlj^ influenced by the advertising pertaining to the products 

 in question. 



Animal Products. 



The principal role of meat and meat and bone scrap or meal is to furnish animal 

 protein in a convenient form. Avoid tainted material carrying a disagreeable odor. 

 In the purchase of this material analysis and condition should carry fully as much 

 weight as price. 



The sample of No. 1 Meat Scraps, manufactured by J. A. Torrey, carried a fat 

 content of 31.21 per cent, which is so abnormal as to cause doubt of its being common 

 to this brand, but rather due to failure to extract the usual amount of fat from this 

 particular lot. 



The bone meals collected were of good quality. 



The fish products found in limited amounts are satisfactory substitutes for the 

 meat products when made from undecomposed material and free from salt, but the 

 price should correspond closely to that of meat scraps of equal protein content. 



