Requests by Individuals for the Analysis 

 of Feeding Stuffs 



Under the feeding ?tuffs law the Agricultural Experiment Station is 

 charged only with the analysis of samples of feeding stuffs collected by 

 the State Inspector under the direction of the Commissioner of Agricul- 

 ture. It does, however, each year analyze a considerable number of 

 samples drawn by individuals representing stock purchased by them for 

 their own use. The object of the purchaser who asks to have the sample 

 analyzed is usually to satisfy himself whether 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 sampling of these 

 unofficial samples but can attest only the accuracy of the analysis of the 

 sample as submitted. It is practically impossible to secure a representa- 

 tive sample of a feeding stuff composed of several ingredients varying 

 widely in composition without the aid of a sampling 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 five per cent protein. These materials 

 are so different in physical condition that the shaking in transit tends to 

 separate them even though they may have been perfectly mixed by the 

 manufacturer before bagging. It is apparent that an accurate sample of 

 a ton of this feed can only be had by drawing a core from several bags. 

 The official method requires ten. Since a representative sample is as 

 essential as an accurate analysis in judging the value of a shipment of 

 feed, it is evident that a satisfactory adjustment can seldom be effected 

 on the basis of an unofficial sample. 



Notwithstanding the objections which may be raised to the analysis 

 of samples taken without proper sampling equipment, the Station is 

 disposed to continue this work as long as there is evidence that it consti- 

 tutes 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 of the larger lot 

 from which it is taken. Because of the cost of labor and materials, an 

 analysis is not usually warranted on a sample drawn from less than a one 

 ton lot of feed. 



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