REQUEST BY INDIVIDUALS FOR THE ANALYSIS 

 OF FEEDINGSTUFFS 



The feedingstuff law requires the Agricultural Experiment Sta- 

 tion to analyze only samples of registered feedingstuffs drawn under 

 the direction of the Feed Control Supervisor. It does, each year, 

 however, analyze a considerable number of samples drawn by in- 

 dividuals representing stock purchased by them for their own use. 

 Frequently, the reason for requesting an analysis is that the feed 

 is suspected of causing sickness or death of livestock or poultry. 

 While in very rare instances the feed may have caused the trouble, 

 disease is usually found to be the cause. Often feeders, suspecting the 

 feed, lose valuable time in the treatment of the disease by sending a 

 sample of the feed for analysis and waiting for the report. Losses 

 could have been reduced had a veterinarian or poultry specialist been 

 consulted immediately and proper treatment given promptly. The 

 most conclusive method of determining whether or not the feed is the 

 cause of the trouble is a biological test. Such a test can be conducted 

 on the premises of the feeder. If the feed is suspected, confine in 

 sanitary pens two lots of healthy chicks. Give to one lot the suspected 

 feed and to the other lot a feed known to be good. Should the chicks 

 receiving the suspected feed become ill and the others remain healthy, 

 there is evidence that the feed is the cause. Under such circumstances, 

 notify the Feed Control Supervisor and an official sample will be drawn. 

 The official sample will be analyzed to determine if the manufacturer 

 is responsible. 



The most common reason the purchaser has for asking to have 

 the sample analyzed is to satisfy himself whether or not the feed 

 meets its guarantee, and if it does not, to obtain evidence upon which to 

 base a claim for shortage. The Station can assume no responsibility 

 for the drawing of an unofficial sample but can attest only the accuracy 

 of the analysis of the sample as submitted. It is practically impossible 

 to secure a representative sample of a feedingstuff composed of several 

 ingredients varying widely in com.position without the aid of a samp- 

 ling tube for drawing the sample and proper equipment for mixing it. 

 A feed may contain as one of its ingredients gluten meal averaging 

 40 per cent protein, and as another ingredient oat mill feed averaging 

 5 per cent protein. These materials are so different in physical condi- 

 tion that the shaking in transit tends to separate them even though 

 they may have been perfectly mixed by the manufacturer before bag- 

 ging. It is apparent that an accurate sample of a shipment of a feed 

 can only be had by drawing a core from several bags. Since a repre- 

 sentative sample is as essential as an accurate analysis in judging 

 the value of a shipment of feed, it is evident that a satisfactory ad- 

 justment can seldom be effected on the basis of an unofficial sample. 



Notwithstanding the objections which may be raised to the an- 

 alysis of samples taken without proper sampling equipment, the Sta- 

 tion is disposed to continue this work as long as there is evidence that 

 it constitutes a useful service. The samples so submitted should be 

 drawn from at least ten bags in a manner which will insure that the 

 small lot sent for analysis is as accurately representative as possible 



11 



