56 MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 1904, 



DISTILLERS' GRAINS (ANALYSES PAGE 46). 



Dried distillers' grains resemble in composition the gluten 

 feeds. They are, however, much more bulky. They are derived 

 chiefly from corn from which the starch is removed by fermenta- 

 tion. A feeding experiment conducted at this Station* showed 

 these grains to be a valuable source of protein. Two brands, 

 Ajax flakes and Biles Fourex, are on the Maine market. Com- 

 mission houses have sent a few samples of presumably other 

 kinds, but the analyses have been practically the same as the two 

 named. Neither of the brands run up to the guarantee in pro- 

 tein. On the average Biles Fourex carries not much better than 

 30 per cent and Ajax flakes about 32 per cent protein. The 

 goods are somewhat difficult to sample accurately and it may be 

 that the extremely low analyses do not fairly represent the goods. 

 The poor quality of the corn of the season of 1903, poorer even 

 than that of 1902, probably explains this falling off, as in the 

 case of the gluten feeds. However that may be, the manufact- 

 urers of these various corn wastes should be on the lookout for 

 such changes and make their guarantees accordingly. 



UNION GRAINS. (ANALYSES PAGE 46). 



Union grains are a ready made mixture carrying the protein 

 and fat according to the guarantee. They are based upon a 

 feeding experiment with Holstein cattle in which Biles Fourex 

 was fed in combination with wheat bran, gluten feed, ground 

 corn, ground oats, and oil meal. For the farmer who must buy 

 all his feeds, Union grains at a fair price would probably prove 

 profitable. As a rule, oats and corn are profitable for cows when 

 the feeds are home grown and expensive feeds to purchase. A 

 feeding test is being made at this Station with Union grains. 



blatcheort/s calE meal (analyses page 47). 

 Blatchfords' calf meal has been upon the market for several 

 years. It is apparently pretty widely distributed in the State. 

 The first sample examined by the Station in 1898 carried 33.44 

 per cent protein. This sample was probably much higher in 

 protein than the goods usually run. The year following the 

 samples ran about as this year, with 25 per cent protein. The 



* Buletin 92, page 65. 



