Feeding Experiments. 27 



Deductions from Experimental Period. — The following deductions 

 might fairly be taken from this experimental period : — 



(1) The order of the various lots in relation to greatest gains is 

 AS follows: 1, 4, 2, 5, -3, 6. 



(2) The order of the cheapest gains per lot is as follows: 4, 2, 

 ■5, 1, 6, 3. 



(3) Comparing lot 1 (a well-balanced, palatable ration) with 

 lot 2 (where half the meal was replaced by black seeds), it is seen that 

 nearly one-third less gains were made, but the gains were about one- 

 quarter cheaper, due to the low cost of the black seeds. It is seen 

 that 287 pounds of meal gave the same gains as 673 pounds of black 

 seeds, plus 108 pounds of roots, plus 451 pounds of skim-milk. Had 

 no black seeds been fed, it is safe to say that the milk and roots would 

 have produced as great if not greater gains. 



(4) Comparing lots 1 and 3, it is found that lot 3 gave extremely 

 small gains — smaller than should have been made on roots and milk 

 alone, and at a higher cost per pound gain. It is seen that 860 pounds 

 of meal gave the same gains as 3,316 pounds of black seeds, 1,909 

 pounds of roots, and 7,955 pounds of milk. At the above valuations 

 of meal, roots, and milk, black seeds in this ration are quite useless, 

 the 13^ ton of black seeds not only having no feeding value but actually 

 causing a loss of $4-98 on the value of the roots and milk of lot 3. 



(5) Comparing lots 2 and 3, it is seen that when the meal is 

 completely replaced by the black seeds only one-sixth of the gains are 

 made, and these gains at just double the cost per pound. That is, 

 460 pounds of meal would give the same gains as 1,916 pounds of 

 black seeds plus 1,217 pounds of roots plus 5,295 pounds of milk. 

 In other words, at the above valuations of skim-milk, roots, and meal, 

 "the black seeds are of no value and even cause a loss on the value of the 

 ■milk and roots of lot 3, amounting to $5.42. 



(6) Comparing lots 1 and 6, it is seen that lot 6 on water and 

 "black seeds alone made practically no gains, but maintained weight 

 only for forty-two days. It would thus appear that in lot 2 the 

 milk, roots, and meal, plus 70 pounds of black seeds are responsible 

 for fairly large and cheap gains. 



(7) Comparing lots 3 and 6, it is seen that the milk and roots 

 of lot 3 are altogether responsible for the gains. With milk and 

 roots at the above valuations, black seeds fed thus have only a 

 /aluation of 65 cents per ton. 



To summarize the value of black seeds in this experiment, it is 

 safe to say that the food value of this by-product is comparatively 

 low, even when fed in small quantities in a well-balanced ration 

 containing good variety; that it has little food value when fed in 

 conjunction with only one or two other foodstuffs; that animals 

 of 160 pounds weight can be made to eat 2 pounds each per day 

 and thus retain a normal weight for a short period of about 1)^ 

 month; that this product is rather unpalatable and, if constituting 

 any considerable proportion of the grain ration, is unpleasant to 

 the animals. 



(8) Comparing lots 1 and 4, it is seen that lot 4 on buckwheat 

 screenings produced the second largest gains, made the cheapest 



