16 



CONTROL BULLETIN NO. 136 



Microscopic examination of some of the samples with sub-normal fat percen- 

 tages has indicated that products sold as ground oats are sometimes more or 

 less synthetic mixtures of ground wheat, barley, and oats plus added oat hulls, 

 oat mill feed, or similar high-fiber materials. This is most apt to be true when a 

 low fat content is associated with high fiber and low protein contents. 



It is regrettable that the practices of a few manufacturers of ground oats 

 during the past two seasons have done much to undermine the confidence of 

 feed manufacturers in the quality of all ground or pulverized oat products. 

 Some feed manufacturers have become convinced that the only way they can be 

 sure of obtaining ground oats of the desired quality is by grinding the oats at 

 their own plants. During the past two seasons Massachusetts feed manufacturers 

 have probably experienced more difficulty with the quality of ground oats than 

 with that of any other feed ingredient. 



In the future this Control Service plans to watch carefully the shipments of 

 ground oats into Massachusetts, and to have grossly adulterated shipments 

 seized by the Federal authorities. It is not intended to have this State remain a 

 market for Wisconsin or any other limestone at eighty or ninety dollars a ton. 

 For this purpose it is requested that Massachusetts feed manufacturers notify? 

 the Feed Control Service whenever shipments of ground oats of questionable 

 quality are received. 



Whole Oats 



