CHAPTER XII 

 THE FEED PROBLEM 



Feeding is one of the most paramount questions to the 

 poultry raiser. He is ever confronted with the problem of the 

 best results at the lowest possible cost. Therefore, feeding 

 poultry to attain the best results for the purpose for which 

 they are fed must be considered from a purely scientific 

 standpoint. 



It is not sufficient to know that certain substances possess 

 great nutritive value, and that certain feeds are practically 

 worthless or are of low nutritive value, but he must know what 

 feeds are best suited to the varying conditions of the animal 

 economy for the purpose for which it is being fed. 



PLANT GROWTH 



A microscopic examination of a blade of grass, grain of 

 wheat, or stalk of corn shows it to be made up of cells variously 

 modified: the whole group of cells taldng on the form of the 

 object under consideration. It has been determined that 

 primarily all cells are closed sacs, which contain the juices 

 and other substances incident to plant hfe which parallel 

 animal tissue. A woody substance, known as cellulose, forms 

 the cell wall. If the plant is supplied with an abundance of 

 water and other favorable conditions, the growth is rapid, 

 the cells are large, and the walls are tender, as in young rape, 

 and the birds eat it with a relish. This kind of feed ranks 

 high in albuminous material. The growth may be slower, as 

 in the stems of the forest trees, whose cells are found to be 

 small, hence a large amount of cellulose and the parts are 

 tough and woody. 



Certain elements are necessary to plant life. These are 

 carbon (C), hydrogen (H), oxygen (0), nitrogen (N), and ash 

 or mineral matter. 



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