

FEED COST OP EGG PRODUCTION. 11 



average egg yield (158) up to that time in these feeding experiments. 

 This increased percentage of beef scrap in 1915 undoubtedly accounts 

 partly for the increased production in Pen 8. The conclusion to be 

 drawn from Pens 5 and 8, in which the mash was mixed as selected 

 by the hens in Pens 3, 4, and 7, is that just as good results if not better 

 are secured where a fixed mash is used throughout the year as where 

 each mash constitutent is fed separately. 



FEEDING VALUE OF POULTRY FEEDS. 



THE VALUE OF OATS. 



Pens 1 and 2 were fed alike (see Table 1) except that the oats 

 were left out of the scratch ration in Pen 2. The egg yield was about 

 the same in these pens the first year, but Pen 2 ate considerably less 

 feed. Both pens were on free range. Pen 1 laid about 15 more eggs 

 per hen than Pen 2 during their second year, but the feed cost of egg 

 production was about the same (see Table 2). In their third year 

 Pen 1 laid 12 more eggs per hen than Pen 2 and produced eggs 4 cents 

 per dozen cheaper. The average cost of the eggs for three years is 

 slightly in favor of Pen 1, but this difference is less than 1 cent per 

 dozen and may not be entirely due to the difference in rations. 

 The mortality in Pen 1 during the second year, although considerably 

 greater than hi Pen 2, was apparently due to the difference in the 

 fowls and not to the feed. 



Leaving the oats out of the scratch mixture in Pen 2 increased 

 the cost of the mixture 6 cents per 100 pounds. The hens in Pen 2 

 tended to get overfat, which may be partly due to the larger propor- 

 tion of corn in the scratch mixture, but was also affected by the 

 breed of fowls, as discussed on page 36. With the mixture con- 

 taining oats cheaper than one without this grain, there does not 

 appear to be any reason for leaving it out of the ration, and the oats 

 add variety to the feed. If the cost of a pound of oats should increase 

 out of proportion to corn and wheat, a ration without oats would give 

 good results. 



THE VALUE OF BEEF SCRAP OR ANIMAL PROTEIN. 



Pen 9 was fed a ration without beef scrap (see Table 1 ) to determine 

 what results would be secured from fowls kept on free range and fed 

 a standard ration with the animal protein (beef scrap) left out and not 

 replaced by vegetable protein. This pen had an unlimited range in 

 woods containing a brook which supplied bugs and is perhaps in 

 many ways directly comparable to conditions on general farms, 

 where beef scrap or any other material furnishing animal protein 

 is not generally fed. 



The fowls in this pen were in good breeding condition, or slightly 

 thin, throughout the experiment, as opposed to the slight tendency 

 to become overfat noted in nearly all other pens of general-purpose 



