84 AMERICAN SQUAB CULTURE 



ducts. The hays and fodders contain large quantities of crude 

 fiber, while as a rule, seeds, grains, and other concentrated feed 

 stuffs contain only a very small proportion of crude fiber. This 

 element is, therefore, of but little importance in the consideration 

 of feed stuifs for pigeons, their food consisting almost entirely 

 of grains and other concentrated feed stuffs, containing but very 

 small proportion of crude fiber. Hence, crude fiber enters but 

 very little into the consideration of pigeon feeds, but they should 

 contain only small proportions of crude fiber. Barley contams 

 considerable crude fiber, on account of the husk remaining on 

 the seed, and this explains why pigeons do not like barley 

 very much. 



Carbohydrates 



Nitrogen-free extracts (mostly carbohydartes) , meaning feeds 

 free from nitrogen, or protein, are composed of starch, sugar, 

 dextrin (gum), and other substances of a similar nature, and 

 are mostly carbohydrates, containing carbon, hydrogen, and 

 oxygen, and is the most plentiful of all nutrients contained in 

 grains and other feed stuffs suitable for pigeons. 



Value of Carbohydrates 

 Most concentrated feed stuffs, consisting of grains, such as 

 corn, milo maize, kaflr, feterita, wheat, buckwheat, rye, barley, 

 millet and rice, are carbohydrates and composed largely of 

 starches, sugars, and dextrin (or gums) and are easily digested 

 and of great advantage to the animal body; while, on the other 

 hand, the nitrogen-free extracts contained in wheat bran, corn 

 bran, corn cobs, peanut hulls, hay, fodder, etc., are composed 

 of other materials than starch, sugar and gums, and are of less 

 value as feed stuffs. Therefore, the carbohydrates, or nitrogen- 

 free extracts of these two kinds of feed stuffs cannot be compared. 



Utilization of Foods 



When food is digested, there are considerable losses due to 

 undigested food, to losses as gases, and to the work involved 

 in digestion. The remainder represents the net value of the food 

 to the animal or bird. This net food value is the nourishment 

 secured from food, after deducting all losses involved in the 

 process of digestion. This net nutriment must first be used for 

 taking care of the bodily needs, and the excess, if any, can then 

 be used for productive purposes. 



