Chapter III 



The Raw Material 



FOOD is any substance which taken into the animal 

 organism contributes to its growth and maintenance. 

 Food is fuel for the engine and raw material for the factory. 

 The term "feed" has a similar scope but is applied more par- 

 ticularly to animals, not to man. The term feed may also 

 apply to a definite portion of food, as a feed of corn or oats. 



A ration is a definite combination of foods or feeds. 



A balanced ration is one prepared to meet the full needs of 

 the animal organism. The ration to be used depends upon the 

 end desired and the environment of the flock. The ration in 

 summer with free range should be quite different from that of 

 winter in confinement. The ration to force egg production 

 would differ somewhat from a fattening ration. The ration 

 during the moulting season should be adapted to the needs of 

 the fowl in growing new feathers. The baby chick ration 

 should meet the demands of the growing body. 



Available Poultry Feeds 



Wheat is the most desirable of all grains for poultry. It is 

 more nearly a balanced ration than any other grain. It is free 

 from an indigestible hull. As a feed for growing chicks and 

 laying hens it is of great value. Even though at times ex- 

 pensive, the results obtained warrant its use. 



Corn is rich in carbohydrate and, therefore, is an excellent 

 winter feed. Chickens will eat it in preference to an}' other 

 grain. It is not a balanced ration and, if fed alone, will prove 

 disappointing unless the fowls have free range and have 

 opportunity to secure green feed and insects. It is valuable 

 as a fattening ration and as a part of developing and laving 

 rations. 



Oats make a very valuable feed for poultry, but on account 

 of the thick hull with its indigestible crude fiber it is not 

 relished like corn and wheat. It is equal to wheat in protein 

 content and about equal to corn in fat. Its nitrogen-free ex- 



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