40 



POULTRY FOODS 



otherwise damaged grains are not fit for feeding to 

 poultry. 



The accompanying table shows the digestibility of the 

 various food principles found in wheat of good quality. 

 Although about 20% of its dry matter is indigestible, 

 wheat, on account of its palatability, is the best possible 

 whole-grain food for fowls. 



DIGESTIBLE MATTER IN WHEAT 



Wheat Screenings. The value of wheat screenings as 

 a food depends on the quantity of weed seeds and other 

 materials that are mixed with the wheat of inferior 

 quality. Good wheat screenings have a food value equal 

 to that of oats; screenings of poor quality have a food 

 value that may be less than that of oat hulls or straw. 

 Although fowls will eat a large portion of the weed 

 seeds in screenings, many of them have no food value. 

 Wheat screenings as a food for poultry are used in con- 

 nection with an animal food and corn. 



Wheat Bran. The amount of gluten contained in 

 wheat bran, which is a by-product in the manufacture 

 of flour, determines its value as an egg-producing food. 

 If the bran has the appearance of being kiln-dried, it 

 probably contains so little digestible material that it 

 is worthless as a food for hens. As dry bran free from 

 gluten is practically all crude fiber, it is valuable only 

 as a bulky substance for distending the intestines so 

 that concentrated foods may be digested. 





