THE NUTRIENTS AND NUTRITION 323 



and gluten feed as a source of protein for ^-I'owiiig winter 

 chickens, where the same amount of protein was added to 

 tlie same hasal ration in each case, and an abundance of asli 

 supphed. 



W. V. Wlieeleri found tliat witli 10 lots of chicks, G lots of 

 immature pullets, 2 lots of young hens, and 2 lots of old 

 hens, fed contrasted rations which were as nearly alike as 

 possible, except that all the protein was of vegetable origin 

 in one case and -10 to 50 per cent of animal origin in the 

 other, with every two lots contrasted, the results were 

 nuirkcdly more satisfactory '\\here the aninud feed was the 

 source of jirotein. The chicks having the animal feed ration 

 consumed 12 to 3 t per cent more feed and made 22 to KJO 

 ]ier cent faster gains. 



The pullets fed the animal-feed ration consumed 13 per 

 cent more feed and laid 30 per cent more eggs than those 

 restricted to protein of vegetable sources, while the old 

 hens having the animal protein consumed 15 per cent more 

 food and laid 30 per cent more eggs. 



Xempster- rci)orts that he could find no e^'ide^ce that 

 vegetable proteins alone or in combination with feed of 

 animal origin increased egg production. Lewis' found that 

 ])rotcin from a vegetable source, even when supi)leniented 

 l)y feeds rich in availalile ])hosphoric acid was not efficient 

 for growing chicks or laying hens. 



There is much further evidence bearing out the above 

 from numerous sources. 



A possiljle partial explanation of this may be in the fact 

 that the jirotein in the plant is surrounded by cellulose, 

 while in animal products it is surrounded by the more easily 

 digested fat. 



Concentrated Feeds. — Poultry are able to digest little of the 

 bulky feeds, such as the cured hays and fodders. The con- 

 centrates, such as grains and their by-products, they digest 

 with a fair efficiency. It is possible, however, to secure a 

 feed of so great a concentration that the digesti\e tract will 



' New York Experiment Station, Tn-enty-sixth Annual Report. 

 " Missouri Bulletin, Xc>. l.^.l. 

 ' New Jersey Bulletin, No. 2G5. 



