342 PRODUCTIVE FEEDING OF FARM ANIMALS 



poultryman pay more serious attention to the fowls' diet, in order 

 that they get the materials they need to produce most profitably. 



The principal points to be considered in formulating a poultry 

 ration may be set forth as follows : 



Variety. — It pays to feed a ration consisting of a well-blended 

 mixture of a number of different feeds but it is not advisable to 

 change the ration from day to day or week to week in order to secure 

 such variety. Continual changing of the ration necessitates a re- 

 adjustment of the fowl's digestive system every time a new kind of 

 feed is eaten. If fed a definite ration regularly, the digestive tract 

 becomes thoroughly adjusted to the handling of that definite ration 

 and a more economic digestion of the feed results. Variety in- 

 creases palatability. Palatability produces a more efficient use of 

 the feed consumed because it stimulates a more copious secretion 

 of the digestive juices. Variety tends to reduce the cost of the 

 ration. If at a time when wheat, barley and corn are selling for 

 $36, $26 and $32 a ton, respectively, "A" feeds only wheat as a 

 grain, whereas " B " feeds equal parts of the three, then " A " is pay- 

 ing $1.80 per hundred pounds for his poultry grain, whereas " B " 

 is only paying $1.57 per hundred. Variety makes it possible to use 

 in the ration feeds which of themselves: might be unpalatable to the 

 fowls, although very desirable from other points of view, but which 

 could be put into a variety ration and disguised by other very pala- 

 table materials. 



Suitability. — Every ration should be suitable to the purpose 

 for which it is fed if the highest efficiency is to follow, just as in the 

 mechanical world every piece of machinery must be exactly adapted 

 to the work required of it to reach a high efficiency curve. The 

 feed mixtures fed to birds that are being fattened will differ some- 

 what from rations fed to secure rapid growth of young chicks or a 

 full egg-basket from laying hens. To illustrate, in crate fattening 

 best results are secured by feeding a sloppy mash ration mixed with 

 buttermilk to such a consistency that it will run off a spoon. Set- 

 ting hens should be fed a mixture of grains only and no mash, 

 because they take so little exercise that an easily digested ground 

 mash would cause them to become overfat. Ducks would suffer if 

 they were not able to take a mouthful of feed and then rush to the 

 water trough to wash it down. 



Bulk. — The ration should contain enough bulk to enable the 

 digestive juices to easily penetrate it, but should not contain an excess 

 which must be eliminated with a waste of energy. 



Grain to Mash Ratio. — All rations but quick-fattening rations, 



