﻿6 BULLETIN 21, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



The equipment, management, and method of feeding at Station 1 

 are described in Bulletin 140. The ration was varied during- the 

 summer season in the following way: 



FEED. 



Lots 1 to 13 received a ration averaging 1 part shorts, 2 of low- 

 grade flour, and 2.5 corn meal, but these proportions were varied 

 somewhat. Lots 1 to 3 did not receive any tallow. In all the rest 

 of the lots 6 per cent of the dry feed was tallow, altnough lots 4 to 

 17 did not receive tallow during their entire feeding period. The 

 feed for all the lots was mixed in one tank at the same time. 



Tallow increased the cost of gains considerably, but did not in- 

 crease the gains in proportion to the extra cost. The tallow appar- 

 ently increases the gams slightly and makes the fat appear more 

 distinctly on the birds. Many buyers judge the condition of the 

 birds partly by the prominence of this fat, so that it may be wise to 

 feed a small proportion of tallow in some cases. Tallow was not fed 

 at any of the other stations included in these records. These other 

 companies had built up a reputation for such good poultry that they 

 were able to sell their products as high, if not higher, than those 

 produced by the company using tallow. On the whole there does 

 not appear to be any advantage in feeding tallow at present prices 

 except as it affects the appearance and the sale of the product, which 

 depends both on the market and the reputation of the producer. 



OAT FLOUR. 



Lots 14 to 30 received 1 part of shorts, 1 of low-grade flour, and 

 1.5 parts of corn meal, with 6 per cent tallow. Lots 30 to 43 received 

 equal parts of oat flour, low-grade wheat flour, and corn meal, which 

 proved to be a very efficient ration, producing gains with slightly 

 less feed but at a higher cost, because of the difference between the 

 price of oats and of low-grade flour or shorts. Oats are one of the 

 best fattening feeds and produce very good gains, but they do not 

 equal low-grade wheat flour at the present price of grains. Oats 

 which were ground and reground without removing the hulls were 

 tried on a small scale toward the end of the feeding season with sat- 

 isfactory results. Both hens and large chickens ate oats thus pre- 

 pared without any ill effects, and made gains. It is possible that 

 the hulls might injure young, tender chickens, but this can only be 

 proved by feeding. If a feeder can procure reground oats contain- 

 ing hulls at a price not much greater than that of low-grade wheat 

 flour they are one of the best feeds, as they produce a good quality 

 of flesh and can be used efficiently in fattening poultry. A ration 

 composed of one-fourth oats, one-fourth low-grade flour, and one- 

 half corn meal would give very good results during the first part of 

 the feeding season, and the proportion of corn meal could be gradu- 

 ally increased later in the season during cool or cold weather. 



