336 POULTRY PRODUCTION 



The amounts of digestible nutrients found in 100 pounds of 

 rye as determined by digestion experiments with chickens 

 are 7.5 pounds of protein, 0.48 pounds of fat, and 64.6 

 pounds of nitrogen-free extract. It contains 2.1 pounds of 

 ash and has a nutritive ratio of 1 to 8.7 for chickens. The 

 crude fiber content is 1.5 pounds. 



Sunflower Seeds. — The high fat content (21 per cent.) 

 of sunflower seeds, combined with the fact that they contain 

 the glycocoll group of amino acids, makes them highly prized 

 for feeding birds intended for exhibition. Glycocoll is neces- 

 sary for feather growth and the oil produces a desirable 

 gloss that is much sought. Their high fiber content (nearly 

 30 per cent.) and the prevailing high prices render them 

 unprofitable for feeding except for the purpose noted above. 



Wheat. — ^Wheat is usually spoken of as the best of the grains 

 for poultry feeding. This is probably because it contains 

 more protein and ash than corn or kafir and less fiber than oats. 



As shown by Brown"^ the amount of protein available for 

 chickens found in 100 pounds of wheat is 9.69 pounds, 

 while the amount found in 100 pounds of corn is 9.27, or 

 but 0.42 pounds less. At the same time, wheat contains less 

 than one-third as much digestible fat as corn and slightly 

 less nitrogen-free extract. 



Brown further reports digestive disturbances when fowls 

 were fed on a pure wheat diet, accompanied by loss of appetite 

 and bodily depression. Changing to a diet of oats and corn 

 stopped the trouble. 



These facts, coupled with its high cost, due to its demand 

 for flour-making, indicate that too much emphasis has been 

 laid upon wheat as the most important single grain for 

 poultry feeding;. It is, however, a very valuable addition to 

 any ration by way of variety and because of its palatability. 



The plump, soft wheats are more palatable for fowls than 

 the hard wheats', but the comparative feeding value has not 

 been determined. 



Shrunken wheat, caused by frost or drouth, contains a 

 larger proportion of protein than plump wheat because the 



' PurefW of Animal Industry, Bulletin No. $6, 



