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



in producing gains. At Station 1 during the greater part of the sea- 

 son the birds received a light feed in the morning and a heavy feed 

 at night, thus getting the bulk of their feed in one meal. Some small 

 tests hi cramming, the results of which were not recorded, produced 

 very good results by feeding only once daily. The advantage of 

 feeding twice as against three times daily depends on other factors 

 as much as on the efficiency of the use of feed, so that each feeder must 

 decide that question for himself. Very good results can be secured 

 by either method. There appears to be less danger of overfeeding 

 when feeding only twice daily, but a more experienced feeder is 

 required to regulate the amount to feed in two meals than in three 

 in order to get the greatest amount of feed into the bird. Apparently 

 under average conditions the birds will consume more feed in three 

 meals daily, but will use their feed more efficiently if fed twice, pro- 

 vided that they receive enough feed. 



THE USE OF CONDIMENTAL FEEDS., 



A commercial preparation claimed by the manufacturers to stimu- 

 late the appetites of birds which are being fattened was fed in 

 Experiment B to lots 1 to 12. Later in the season the test was 

 repeated by feeding this preparation to lots 23 to 37. It did not 

 appear to stimulate the birds' appetites, as the gains of other lots, fed 

 before and after those which received this substance, did not show 

 there was any advantage in feeding it. - 



Oil of aniseed mixed with pure carbolic acid, and fed at the rate 

 of one tablespoonful to every 2,000 birds, had been used by one of 

 the feeders in some previous work. It was claimed to have increased 

 the appetite of the birds, but it made the bones brittle, so that its 

 use prevented good dressing. 



THE USE OF SALT AND GRIT. 



Fine salt was fed in Experiments C and D at the rate of 4 pounds 

 of salt to 10,000 head, without producing any apparent results. The 

 feeders at these stations believed that salt in the feed kept the birds 

 from picking each other, so that when this vice is prevalent it may 

 pay to feed salt, otherwise there is no advantage in adding salt to 

 the ration. 



Grit was given to the birds in Experiment B twice weekly during 

 the first month of the feeding season, but no grit was fed at any of 

 the other stations. At the end of the month the feeding of grit was 

 stopped without any apparent effect, and was not fed any more dur- 

 ing the season. Birds in good health. which are fattened not longer 

 than 16 days do not need grit, as grit increases the cost of feed and 

 labor without producing better gains. 



