Evening star., 1915-07-25
CORRECT FEEDS TO KEEP
POULTRY GROWING FAST
This Years Chicks Must Have q Bal.
anced Ration if They Are to De-
velop Into Profitable Fowls.
Combination of Cracked Grains and
Dry Mash Suggested as Econom-
ical Diet for the Young Stock.
BY PROF. HARRY R. LEWIS.
Copyright. 1915.b

In determining the best foods for
growing poultry. it Is essential that the
feeder should know the functions and
uses of the common nutrients. They
are protein. carbohydrates, fat. ash
and water.
Protein is a nitrogenous food ma
terial. 1t is of the most Importance in
the ration, is expensive to purchase,
and cannot be readily grown by the
poultryman. 1t provides material for
the formation of the lean meat.
feathers. beak and nails. Carbohydrates
contain carbon, hydrogen and oxygen,
examples being sugar and starch. Fat
is oil stored up in plants and animals.
Carbohydrates and fat have much the
same function when fed to the growing
birds
Growing poultry must have these ele
ments of protein, carbohydrates and fat
in order to maintain a satisfactory
gain.
Mineral Matter Important.
Ash or mineral matter is an important
nutrient, having for its function the
building up of the bone and the forma-
tton of the framework of the body.
Lime is a simple form of ash, which is
fed extensively in poultry rations.. In
addition to building up body and tissue.
ash aids the process of digestion by in
creasing the availability of other foods.
Water, while not true food. has an
important function. 1t aids in dissolv-
ing food material in smaller particles
and distributing them to the different
parts of the body. 1t also adds ma
terially in increasing diffusion. which
is ultimately assimilated.
Protein or nitrogenous food materials
are of two kinds-those of an animal
source and those Of a vegetable source
There is no more economical source of
protein than meat scrap, which can be
purchased for about $50 ton, OF cents
scrap is also efficient as a protein car
rier. 1t contains considerable phos-
phoric acid and nitrogen. 1t can be
purchased for 50 per 100 pounds. Bone
in the dry granulated form contains
from 20 to 25 per cent protein. and
about % per cent of phosphoric acid.
Growing chicks thrive much better
when it is included in the ration.
Vegetable protein carriers usually
consist of such products as gluten meal,
oil meal and soy bean meal. These are
efficient when given in relatively small
quantities. but protein from such
sources will not replace protein from
animal sources
Glover and Alfalfa Desirable.
Glover and alfalfa are efficient car
rers of protein. They contain consider
able nitrogen, and can be fed profitably
in the ration. The most economical plan
is to grow them on the range and allow
the birds to eat them off the roots.
Carbohydrates and fat can best be Sc
cured from home or farm grown ma
terials, such as wheat and oats. Corn
contains large amounts of carbohydrates
as we'll as considerable fat. Carbohy-
drates are found in large quantities in
all grain and cereal crops. They are not
as expensive to purchase as are protein
nutrients. and a wider choice is avail
able.
An abundance of fresh, clean, pure
water should be kept before the growing
poultry at all times. In addition. If the
proper growth is to be maintained, they
should have access to green growing
crop. Permanent sod is best, but in the
absence of this the range can be seeded
to oats or buckwheat, which provides
for succulent tender feed.