INSPECTION OF COMMERCIAL FEEDSTUFFS 



REQUESTS FOR SPECIAL ANALYSES 



Each year the Control Serv-ice receives a considerable number of feed samples 

 from individuals who suspect that the feed in question is causing the death of 

 livestock. Usually it is suspected that the feed either contains ingredients toxic 

 to livestock or is lacking in certain nutritional factors. 



Since complying with all the requests without question would entail more 

 work than the Control Service can afford to spend in this direction, it has been 

 found necessary to screen all such requests. In this way a great deal of unneces- 

 sary analytical work has been avoided. 



For the guidance of those who will request analytical work because feed is 

 thought to be causing the death of livestock, it is suggested that they: 



1. Consult a veterinarian immediately upon noticing anything wrong. 

 If disease is the cause of the trouble, valuable time will be lost if, 

 instead of consulting a veterinarian, the owner of the livestock suspects 

 the feed and waits for our analysis to tell him the cause of the trouble. 



2. Save at least one unopened sack of feed with the attached analysis 

 tag. In too many cases the only feed left is a handful in the hopper or 

 a few pounds remaining in a bag. Upon investigation it was found in 

 one case that the sample sent in actually represented feed that had 

 been dropped along the way to the hoppers and was subsequently 

 swept up. 



3. Notify the Control Service if the veterinarian has cause to suspect the 

 feed, sending the veterinarian's report. The Control Service Inspector 

 will take an official sample and will also get additional information on 

 the case. No analysis will be made except on official samples. 



The veterinarian's report usually furnishes clues to the probable causes of the 

 trouble. If the presence of toxic ingredients is indicated, the feed will be tested 

 by feeding it to a trial group of chickens or rats, depending upon whether poultry 

 or other animals are involved. This is the only sure way to prove whether or 

 not the feed contains poisonous material. It is virtually impossible to analyze 

 a feed and, however extensive the analysis may be. to state unequivocally that 

 the feed contains no poison. The Control Service has never found a poisonous 

 ingredient in a mixed feed, although excessive quantities of salt have been found 

 in a few cases. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies have been encountered in other 



If the veterinarian diagnoses the case as that involving nutritional deficiency, 

 his report indicates the factor probably lacking. 



The following letter dated April 2, 1951, shows the necessity for insisting that 

 the above procedure be followed: 



"I am sending along three samples of feed for analysis. Please tell 

 me what you can find wrong with them that could curtail production 

 causing molting and mortality. The feed is definitely old and moldy. 

 I also want to know if the same three samples vary as to ingredients 

 and protein." 



