84 POULTRY FOR PROFIT 



Linseed meal 1 :2.5 



Alfalfa, green 1 :2.3 



Alfalfa, hay 1 :3.3 



Cabbage 1 :5.1 



Beet, mangel 1 :5.1 



Bran 1 :3.4 



Corn meal 1:11.5 



Middlings 1 :5.1 



Beef scrap 1 :0.3 to 1 :1.1 



A narrow nutritive ratio is one in which the pro- 

 portion of protein is large. A wide nutritive ratio is 

 one which contains a larger proportion of carbohy- 

 drates. In California a nutritive ratio of 1 :4.5 or 

 1 :5 is preferred to the wider ratio of 1 :6 generally 

 prescribed in the East. 



The Balanced Ration 



Far easier to understand is the classification of 

 foodstuffs into (1) grains, (2) animal food, and (3) 

 green food. A combination of these three kinds of 

 feed in the proportion which has been found best for 

 maintaining the health of the fowl is called a bal- 

 anced ration. Technically, a balanced ration is a 

 combination of the food elements, carbohydrates, 

 protein and crude fiber in a given proportion. Prac- 

 tically, no one needs to understand these chemical 

 terms in order to be a good feeder. A grain ration 

 of wheat and corn at night, with a dish of dry bran 

 to add bulk, plenty of green feed, and fresh meat 

 twice a week to take the place of the bugs and worms 

 the fowl would find on free range, makes a perfectly 

 balanced ration. It is only because a slightly differ- 

 ent mixture may better suit the needs of growing 

 stock or force a few more eggs from the laying hen, 

 or because cheaper foodstuffs will answer the same 

 purpose that we need to devise different mixtures. 



