POINTS TO CONSIDER 



185 



chanical condition of tlie various foods, since some are more 

 convenient to use than others. And we must pay attention 

 to their digestibihty and palatability. For example, some 

 feeds possess most of the elements of a well-proportioned diet, 

 but if fed exclusively 

 or in large quantities, 

 they are harmful in 

 that they tax the fowl's 

 digestion. Then again, 

 some feeds are practi- 

 cally incapable of diges- 

 tion by fowls. 



Palatability and Di- 

 gestibility. — On the 

 other hand, no matter 

 how digestible and nour- 

 ishing a particular food 

 may be, if it is not palat- 

 able to the fowls, they 

 will not eat freely enough 

 of it to sustain them in 

 proper condition. It has 

 been found in practice, 

 however, that highly di- 

 gestible foods are usually 

 equally palatable, pro- 

 viding they are fed in 

 sufificient variety, hence 

 this point is a consider- 

 ation. Moreover, it has 

 been found that certain 



foods are made more digestible when fed in conjunction with 

 certain other foods. 



The cost of the feed is another vital consideration, if not the 

 most vital point. Economical feeding means to use those ma- 

 terials which render the greatest benefit at the least cost. This is 



{.Courtesy C. L. Opterman) 



Fig. 126. — Overhead rail system for carrying 

 feed and other supplies. 



