30 
BULLETIN 21. U. S. DEPAKTMEXT OE AGRICULTURE. 
Tabi- LI .— j nparatice data of feeding experiments of 1910, 1911. and 1912. 
Experiment. 
Year. 
Number 
of head. 
Average 
weight. 
Average 
per cent 
of gain. 
Average 
grain 
! ! 
pound. 
of gain. 
Average 
cost of 
feed per 
pound 
of gain. 
Average 
cost of 
labor per 
pound 
of gain. 
Average 
total 
cost per 
pound 
of gain. 
A 
B 
C 
D 
1910 
1911 
1912 
1910 
1911 
1912 
1910 
1911 
1912 
1910 
1911 
43,944 
60,144 
90,069 
61.706 
102,684 
90.000 
113.217 
117, 151 
211,560 
89,319 
109.800 
107. 052 
Pounds. 
2.42 
2.47 
2.44 
2.82 
2.56 
2.36 
Per cent. 
18.1 
18.6 
18.6 
>." 
26.0 
26.7 
20.2 
20.4 
20.7 
20.1 
18.0 
15.7 
Pounds. 
3.26 
3.62 
4.42 
3.28 
3.33 
3.58 
Cents. 
6.45 
8.74 
7. 74 
7*. 20 
7.70 
Cents. 
1.40 
1.35 
1.63 
2.59 
2.00 
1.99 
Cents. 
' 55 
9.18 
10.37 
10.33 
9.20 
9.69 
2.48 
2.21 
4.45 
3.72 
7.15 
6.61 
1.81 
! 1 
8.96 
". PS 
2.68 
4.98 
8.7"! 
9.9-5 
1.56 
1.59 
10. 27 
11. M 
CONCLUSIONS. 
The average cost and the amount of feed consumed in fattening 
394.744 chickens at the four feeding experiments in alphabetical 
order dining the season of 1911 were, respectively, as follows: Gram 
per pound of gain. 3.62, 3.33, 4.45, and 4.18 pounds: cost of feed 
per pound of gain. 7. S3. 7.20, 7.15, and 8.71 cents: total cost per 
pound of gain, 9.18, 9.20, 8.96, and 10.27 cents. The averages in 
1912 for 498,681 chickens were: Gram per pound of gam. 4.42. 3.58, 
3.72. and 4.98 pounds; cost of feed per pound of gam, 8.74. 7.70, 
. and 9.95 cents: total cost per pound of gam. 10.37, 9.69, 7. t: <S. 
arid 11.54 cents. 
Tallow, while making the fat on the buds more pronounced, in- 
creased the cost of gains. Thick condensed buttermilk in place of 
tallow produced better results. 
Oat flour produced greater gains than low-grade wheat flour, but 
the latter feed produced cheaper gains. 
Beef scraps added to the buttermilk in a fattening ration did not 
increase the gain. The addition of condimental feeds did not increase 
the appetite of the buds or help the gams. Grit is of no value in 
fattening for any period under 15 days. 
Under commercial conditions hi the Middle West the best results 
are secured by fattening for about 14 days until the middle of Sep- 
tember, and then gradually shortening the period to 6 or 7 days. 
The birds ate more leed on three feeds a day but used feed more 
efficiently when fed only twice. 
Mechanical labor-saving devices reduced the cost of fattening by 
reducing both fche total amount of labor and the proportion of skilled 
labor required. The portable feeding battery turned out the birds in 
better condition and reduced the cost of labor per pound of gain. 
