464 Fattening Geese for Market. [nov., 



the feeding of geese in confinement is very great, and it has 

 been found that geese which have free access to charcoal eat 

 less food but gain considerably more in weight than those 

 without it. 



The following table gives the results of some experiments 

 which have been conducted to ascertain the increase in weight 

 due to different kinds of food : — 



0 

 I 



C/3 

 M 



0 



6 



J 



Weight 

 when put in. 



Weight 

 on nth day. 



Weight 

 on 2 1 st day. 



Average 

 Gain per Bird. 



Average 

 Cost of Food. 



Foods Used. 



lb. 



260 



lb. 

 327 



lb. 

 370 



lb. 



4l 



s. d. 

 1 3 



Morning : Steeped oats. 



Evening : Two parts maize- 

 meal, two parts barley-meal, two 

 parts boiled potatoes, and one 

 part linseed-meal mixed with 

 milk. 



2 



3 



2 5 

 25 



264 

 257 



328J 



371 





1 3 



324 



355 



m 



1 0 



Morning : Steeped oats. 



Evening : Two parts ground 

 oats, two parts barley-meal, 

 three parts boiled potatoes, and 

 milk to moisten. 



4 



25 

 25 



261 



260 



318 



36i' 



4 



1 0 



5 



322 



352 



M 



0 11 



Morning : Steeped barley. 



Evening : Two parts distil- 

 lery oil-cake, one part barley- 

 meal, and one part ground oats, 

 wet with milk. 



6 



25 

 25 



255 



320 



350 



31 



0 11 



7 



259 



3I7J 



340 



~ G 



0 10 



Morning : Steeped barley. 



Evening : Three parts distil- 

 lery-oil cake, one part barley- 

 meal, one part bean-meal, and 

 milk as above. 



8 



25 



262 



322 



346 



3/y 



0 10 



It will be seen from the above table that the average cost of 

 feeding the birds in Lots 1 and 2 was greater than that of any 

 other, and half as much again as the cost of feeding Lots 7 

 and 8. Yet if the birds are to be sold in those markets where 

 geese are bought by weight, it would pay better to use the more 

 expensive food given to Lots 1 and 2, because the heavier the 

 goose the higher the price per pound, and by raising the weight 

 from 11 to 13 lb. the selling price of the bird may be increased 

 by 2s. 3d. That is to say, at an additional cost of six or eight 

 pence, a goose which would only fetch 6s. 5d. may be converted 

 -into one which will realise 8s. 8d. 



