14 



and much higher proportions of nutritive material than the succulent 

 feeds analyzed. The range in the water content and the correspond- 

 ing range in the proportion of nutritive ingredients was also much 

 smaller than in the case of the succulent feeds. Nitrogen-free extract 

 was the principal nutritive material present in the samples analyzed, 

 though some of the materials, particularly dried brewers' grains, 

 algeroba bean seeds, and cocoanut meal, contained high percentages 

 of protein. Especially noteworthy is the protein content of the 

 algeroba bean seeds, which averaged over 30 per cent. 



HAWAIIAN FEEDS COMPARED WITH THOSE PRODUCED ELSE- 

 WHERE. 



The agricultural experiment stations throughout the United States 

 have analyzed a very large number of feeding stuffs, and from time to 

 time this work has been summarized in station bulletins and in publi- 

 cations of the Department of Agriculture.^ A comparison of avail- 

 able data indicates that as regards the nutrients which they contain 

 Hawaiian feeding stuffs do not differ materially from similar materials 

 produced elsewhere, the green forage crops being characterized by 

 a high-water content and a comparatively low amount of nutritive 

 material, and the concentrated feeds by much larger percentages of 

 nutritive ingredients in proportion to their bulk. 



Xo detailed comparison of Hawaiian and other feeds is made here, as 

 it seems best to postpone such a discussion until the data regarding* 

 the composition of Hawaiian feeds are much more abundant. The anal- 

 yses reported are, however, sufficient to show the high feeding value 

 of many native materials, and indicate that satisfactory rations for 

 farm animals may be made up from the local feed supply. 



In discussing the value of any feed it should be remembered that 

 digestibility must be taken into account as well as composition, since 

 the animal lives upon the food assimilated rather than upon the food 

 supplied. The digestibility of any feed may be best learned by means 

 of digestion experiments in which records are kept of the amount and 

 composition of the feed consumed and the amount and composition of 

 the excretory products. It is hoped that such experiments may be 

 carried on in connection with the study of Hawaiian feeding stuffs 

 which the station has undertaken, but as yet it has seemed necessary 

 to limit the feeding stuff investigation to studies of composition. 

 There is no reason to suppose that the Hawaiian feeds would be inferior 

 to other similar feeds in digestibility, and it seems fair to conclude that 

 the proportion of digestible nutrients supplied by such feeding stuffs 

 may be calculated on the basis of average factors whenever such cal- 

 culations seem desirable. b 



«U. S. Dept. Agr., Office of Experiment Stations Bui. 11; Farmers' Bui. 22. 

 h A table of digestion coefficients will be found in U. S. Dept. Agr., Office of Exper- 

 iment Stations Bui. 15. 



