348 POULTRY PRODUCTION 



drinking vessels in warm weather. Unless the precaution of 

 frequent scalding is taken there will be an accumulation of 

 solids which will putrify and are likely to cause such nervous 

 troubles as limberneckj so-called, and the like. 



The average amounts of the nutrients found in 100 pounds 

 of skim milk are 90.1 pounds of water, 0.7 pound of ash, 

 3.8 pounds of crude protein, 5.2 pounds of carbohydrates 

 and 0.2 pound of fat. The proportions of these which are 

 digested by chickens have not been determined. 



Milk (Whey). — Whey is low in protein content because of 

 the loss of the casein in the making of cheese. It is good for 

 moistening mashes or as a drink. Its sugar content furnishes 

 nourishment and its acidity aids digestion. 



Molasses. — Bittenbender and Lippincott' found that when 

 enough molasses was added to a basal ration of oat flour to 

 form 10 per cent, of the solid portion of a milk-fattening 

 ration, it increased the average gains slightly, though a 

 little less feed was consiuned. It did not appear to increase 

 the palatability of the ration. The flavor of the fowls fattened 

 on molasses was excellent (see Sugar, p. 349). 



Oil Meal (Linseed). — In the extraction of linseed oil from 

 flaxseed, the residue or cake that is left is ground and placed 

 on the market as a stock food of considerable worth. There 

 are two methods commonly used in extracting the oil, called 

 the old and new processes, respectively. 



In the old process the flaxseed is crushed, heated, placed in 

 sacks, and the oil expressed by hydraulic pressure. In the 

 new process the oil is extracted by washing the crushed and 

 heated seed with naphtha, thus dissolving out the oil. The 

 naphtha is then driven out by steam, the seeds dried, ground, 

 and sold. 



Old process (0. P.) meal is more valuable as a food because 

 it contains a much larger percentage of fat than new process 

 meal, and is also rich in protein. It makes a good feed for 

 moulting hens, as its oil, being readily assimilated, assists 

 in the formation of new feathers. It also has a beneficial 

 physiological effect upon the digestive system and seems 



' Unpublished data, Iowa State College. 



