FEEDING FOR EGG PRODUCTION 



207 



composition of feeds and the part that they play in maintain- 

 ing the fowl as well as to produce the product, the question 

 now arises: "How can these essentials be combined in 

 such a proportion that they will supply the necessary re- 

 quirements?" The question is answered and explained in 

 the balanced ration. 



BALANCED RATIONS 



By balanced ration is meant the combination of feeds 

 in such proper proportions as will 

 furnish the necessary amount of 

 nutrients (protein, nitrogen-free ex- 

 tract, and fat) to produce, in the 

 case of poultry, a satisfactory egg 

 production, to fulfill the body re- 

 quirements, and that can be fed 

 economically. In preparing a ration 

 it is necessary to obtain what is 

 called a nutritive ratio, that is, to 

 obtain the ratio which exists be- 

 tween the amount of the protein in 

 a given feed stuff and the amount 

 of the carbohydrates and fat. 



The nutritive ratio. A practical 

 ration for the production of eggs 

 should include a scratch mixture of 

 grains and a mash composed of 

 palatable grain by-products con- 

 taining some animal feed and suf- 

 ficient bulk. In general terms 

 the most satisfactory nutritive ratio for poultry should be 

 1 part of protein to 43/^ or 5 parts of nitrogen-free extract 

 and fat. When computing the nutritive ratio, the fat is 

 changed to terms of nitrogen-free extract, which is done 



Figure 205. — Homemade hop- 

 per containing 4 separate 

 compartments. Such a hop- 

 per may be used to feed 

 each of the constituents of 

 the dry mash separately, and 

 a similar hopper containing 

 3 compartments may be 

 used for charcoal, grit, and 

 oyster shell. 



