PEED COST OF EGG PRODUCTION. 11 
average egg yield (158) up to that time in these feeding experiments. 
This increased percentage of beef scrap in 1915 undoubtedly accounts 
partly for the increased production in Pen 8. The conclusion to be 
drawn from Pens 5 and 8, in which the mash was mixed as selected 
by the hens in Pens 3,4, and 7, is that just as good results if not better 
are secured where a fixed mash is used throughout the year as where 
each mash constitutent is fed separately. 
FEEDING VALUE OF POULTRY FEEDS. 
THE VALUE OF OATS. 
Pens 1 and 2 were fed alike (see Table 1) except that the oats 
were left out of the scratch ration in Pen 2. The egg yield was about 
the same in these pens the first year, but Pen 2 ate considerably less 
feed. Both pens were on free range. Pen 1 laid about 15 more eggs 
per hen than Pen 2 during their second year, but the feed cost of egg 
production was about the same (see Table 2). In their third year 
Pen 1 laid 12 more eggs per hen than Pen 2 and produced eggs 4 cents 
per dozen cheaper. The average cost of the eggs for three years is 
slightly in favor of Pen 1, but this difference is less than 1 cent per 
dozen and may not be entirely due to the difference in rations. 
The mortality in Pen 1 during the second year, although considerably 
greater than in Pen 2, was apparently due to the difference in the 
fowls and not to the feed. 
Leaving the oats out of the scratch mixture in Pen 2 increased 
the cost of the mixture 6 cents per 100 pounds. The hens in Pen 2 
tended to get overfat, which may be partly due to the larger propor- 
tion of corn in the scratch mixture, but was also affected by the 
breed of fowls, as discussed on page 36. With the mixture con- 
taining oats cheaper than one without this grain, there does not 
appear to be any reason for leaving it out of the ration, and the oats 
add variety to the feed. If the cost of a pound of oats should increase 
out of proportion to corn and wheat, a ration without oats would give 
good results. . 
THE VALUE OF BEEF SCRAP OR ANIMAL PROTEIN. 
Pen 9 was fed a ration without beef scrap (see Table 1 ) to determine 
what results would be secured from fowls kept on free range and fed 
a standard ration with the animal protein (beef scrap) left out and not 
replaced by vegetable protein. This pen had an unlimited range in 
woods containing a brook which supplied bugs and is perhaps in 
many ways directly comparable to conditions on general farms, 
where beef scrap or any other material furnishing animal protein 
is not generally fed. 
The fowls in this pen were in good breeding condition, or slightly 
thin, throughout the experiment, as opposed to the slight tendency 
to become overfat noted in nearly all other pens of general-purpose 
