Q2 TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY REPORT. 
food ration. By chicks having animal food the average weight 
of one pound was reached by different lots from one to three 
weeks sooner, and the average weight of two pounds from three to 
four weeks sooner than by contrasted lots. 
With each two lots of young pullets fed those having the animal 
food made faster growth than those having only vegetable food. 
In only one period was more food consumed by any lot under the 
ration of vegetable food, the excess in this instance being about 5 
per ct., while in other instances there was a difference in consump- 
tion of from 14 to 37 per ct. in favor of the animal food, and in 
but one period was less food required under the vegetable food 
ration for the same increase in weight. 
The two lots of ducklings were fed the contrasted rations for a 
month, commencing when they were one week old. By the end 
of four weeks’ feeding those having only the vegetable food suf- 
fered so in health (one-half having died,’and the survivors not 
gaining in weight), that a modification of the ration was made- 
during three weekly periods by addition of some animal meal. 
After a few days on the changed ration there were no further losses, 
and the rate of growth rapidly increased. A fairly vigorous con- 
dition being restored, the birds were put back on the ration of 
vegetable food for two weeks, during which time the rate of gain 
in weight rapidly diminished. These retarded ducklings at ten 
weeks of age were then fed the standard animal food ration and 
at once began to make a steady and fairly rapid growth, increasing 
in weight during the five weeks about 140 per ct., though they never 
attained to quite the average weight reached by the contrasted lot 
at an earlier age. 
The ducklings having the animal food continued from the start 
in vigorous health, making a steady and rapid growth, which during 
the first month was at the rate of one pound gain in weight for 
every 2.6 pounds of dry matter in the food as against six pounds 
required by the other lot. Up to ten weeks of age they made one 
pound gain in weight for every 3.3 pounds of dry matter in the 
food. With the help of three weeks on the modified ration the 
lot started on vegetable food only averaged during the nine weeks 
five pounds of dry matter in the food for each pound gain in weight. 
The average weight of five pounds was attained about a month 
sooner by the one lot, when the other lot averaged but little over 
two pounds in weight. | 
The two lots of young hens, or pullets in their first laying season, 
