DIGESTION EXPERIMENTS WITH POULTRY. 327 



No. 2. 200 grams bran 



100 grams corn meal 

 50 grams linseed meal 

 40 grams beef scrap. 

 No. 3. 200 grams bran 



50 grams corn meal 

 50 grams linseed meal 

 100 grams gluten feed. 



Mixture No. 3 was fed alone in one experiment and in an 

 other with about 7 per cent of bone ash to test the effect on 

 digestibility of adding bone ash to a ration consisting of wholly 

 vegetable matter. 



Conclusions. 



The results obtained in the experiments here presented indi- 

 cate that the digestion coefficient of most nutrients for poul- 

 try are not materially different from other farm animals. Un- 

 like ruminants, however, they digest very little crude fiber, 

 hence a coarse fodder carrying much of this material is of but 

 little value to them. The nutrients of wheat do not seem to be 

 as well handled as most other concentrated grains, the ether 

 extract showing a particularly low coefficient. Likewise bran, 

 one of the wheat offals, shows low digestibility in organic mat- 

 ter, ether extract and nitrogen free extract. Its bulky and 

 coarse condition has brought it much into favor to feed with 

 more concentrated materials and it often makes as much as 50 

 per cent of the mixtures used for mashes. 



The mixture of equal parts corn meal and fine cut early clover 

 used in the experiments was sufficiently bulky to feed with con- 

 centrates, was more digestible, and at present prices more eco- 

 nomical providing, of course, the poultry man produces his own 

 clover, which he should do. An exclusive diet of wheat had a 

 deranging effect upon the digestive system of the birds. 



Our results, like those of Brown and others, show that corn 

 is a most valuable grain for poultry. Its palatibility and high 

 digestibility has brought it into much favor with all poultry- 

 men. It cannot, of course, be fed alone as it is too concen- 

 trated a feed and also deficient in protein, but when combined 

 with feeds rich in protein and some bulky material as cut clover, 

 it makes up a most desirable ration. 



