334 POULTRY PRODUCTION 



peas as determined by digestion experiments with chickens 

 are 17.8 pounds of protein, 1.2 pounds of fat, and 47.7 pounds 

 of nitrogen-free extract. They contain 3.2 pounds of ash 

 and have a nutritive ratio of 1 to 2.8 for chickens. The 

 crude fiber content is 3.9 pounds. 



Kaiir Com. — ^The only data to be found concerning the 

 availability of the nutrients in kafir corn for chickens^ has 

 been somewhat criticised and declared untrustworthy by 

 certain investigators. While they perhaps cannot be trusted 

 in certain details, it appears that in the matter of the 

 comparison of the total digestible matter with that of corn, 

 the data may be tentatively relied upon. At least, they are 

 the best we have. 



According to this data, kafir corn and kafir meal yielded 

 about 2 per cent, less total digestible matter than corn 

 and corn meal. Judging from its feeding value for swine, 

 it is nearly as valuable as corn as a chicken feed. 



The average amounts of the nutrients found in 100 

 pounds of kafir are 11.8 pounds of water, 1.7 pounds of ash, 

 -11.1 pounds of crude protein, 70.1 pounds of carbohydrates, 

 of which 2.3 pounds are crude fiber and 3 pounds of fat. 

 The proportions digestible for poultry have not been defi- 

 nitely determined. 



Millet. — Millet is similar in composition to oats and is used 

 extensively as a chick feed, but it contains too much fiber to 

 be a very economical feed. It is supposed to have a beneficial 

 action upon the kidneys. Probably because it glistens it 

 is one of the first grains that a newly hatched chick vnSH 

 pick up. 



The amounts of digestible nutrients found in 100 pounds of 

 millet as determined by digestion experiments with chickens 

 are 6.8 pounds of protein, 3 pounds of fat, and 61.59 pounds 

 of nitrogen-free extract. It contains 2.8 pounds of ash and 

 has a nutritive ratio of 1 to 10 for chickens. The crude 

 fiber content is 8.1 pounds. 



Oats. — The general nutritive value of whole oats for 

 poultry appears to be less than that for ruminants and horses. 



• Fields and Ford, Oklahoma Bulletin No. 46. 



