PRACTICAL FEEDING OF POULTRY 



the government farm at Beltsville, Maryland, a pen of 

 pullets on free range which did not get meat scrap or 

 any other animal protein feed, laid an average of only 

 90 eggs each in a year compared with yields of from 125 

 to 150 eggs from similar pens of fowls which were fed 

 rations containing meat scrap. The eggs from the pen 

 where no meat scrap was fed cost several cents more a 

 dozen for feed than from pens where the meat scrap was 

 included in the ration. 



Experiments conducted at Purdue University in 

 Indiana showed an average production of only 59 eggs 

 from hens without meat scrap or animal feed as compared 

 with 179 eggs from those receiving meat scrap or milk. 

 These hens were confined to yards where they did not get 

 the opportunity to pick up any bugs or waste products 

 which the fowls did in the experiments on the government 

 farm showing that the importance of meat feed is even 

 more essential where hens are confined than where they 

 are allowed free range. 



Even with free range conditions on the general farm, 

 where fowls can pick up many bugs, insects, and waste 

 products the value of meat scrap or milk is very great 

 and is not sufficiently appreciated by the farmers. On such 

 farms the amount of meat scrap can be reduced in the 

 spring and summer months to about half of what is ad- 

 vised for winter use. Fish meal or fish scrap can be used 

 to replace the meat scrap and compares favorably with a 

 good grade of meat scrap containing the same per cent of 

 protein. In considering the relative value of these two 



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