Mineral Content of Southern Poultry Feeds 
23 
If the birds had not received milk or mash, and estimating that the 
same quantity of feed consumed as grain mixture and no mash, and 
not taking into account the consumption of shell or limestone as grit, 
there would have been in the first period a deficiency in all mineral 
elements except potassium and magnesium. In the second period there 
would have been a deficiency in sodium, calcium, potassium, and iron. 
In the third period there would have been a deficiency in sodium, 
calcium, phosphorus, and iron. In the fourth period there would have 
been the same deficiency as in the third period. In the fifth period there 
would have been a deficiency in calcium alone. There would also 
have been a deficiency in calcium in the sixth and seventh periods and 
a deficiency in calcium, sodium, and phosphorus in the eighth period. 
In the table giving the mineral balances for the eight periods, there is 
an apparent balance of 20 grams of calcium unaccounted for, and in 
this connection it must be remembered there would be at least one 
or two grams of limestone grit per bird still remaining in the gizzards 
at the time of the end of these tests. This would likewise affect the 
magnesium, giving a small balance, and the same holds good for the 
iron since the limestone used in these experiments contains 3 per cent 
iron. As a summary of the eight periods, there is an apparent shortage 
of phosphorus and a slight shortage of magnesium. 
In this study of feeds from a mineral standpoint, it may be stated 
that mashes consisting of such mill feeds as middlings, also corn meal 
and ground oats must be used with feeds which bring up the percentage 
of phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium. Such feeds as meat and bone 
meal, or bone meal, and meat meal, should be added. Sour skim milk 
and buttermilk, if given in sufficient quantities, aids in making good 
the mineral shortage, as well as providing food hormone which has a 
stimulating effect upon the growth of the young as shown by work in 
this and other institutions. 
