Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-09-11

Of laying hens, extensive experiments
have been conducted at the Missouri
Agricultural Experiment Station. Re-
| suits Of these tests show that egg
production b materially increased by
the addition Of these foods to the hens
rations The first test extended from
Nov. l, 1914 to Oct 81, 1915. The
second experiment lasted from Nov. ],
1915 to Oct. 81, 1915.
The usual poultry yard method Of
feeding was followed. Practically the
only difference in the method of feed
ing the various pens was in the pro-
tein concentrate or the animal food
given to the hens In the morning
little scratch feed was sprinkled in the
straw litter deep enough to make the
fowls scratch and take exercise.
Water was placed in clean pals, and
a pan Of sour milk was given to the
sour milk pen. At noon the proper
amount Of dry mash was measured
into trough, and during winter green
feed was frequently given at the same
time, Two or three times week the
fowls were induced to eat more of the
mash by mixing the dry mash with
water or with milk in case of the sour
milk pen. This wet mash was fed at
the rate Of handful for every four
birds. At night the scratch feed was
given again and the birds were allow
ed to eat all they would so that they
might go to roost with full crops The
purpose of this method of feeding was
to keep the hens busy all day, to keep
their appetites keen, and yet to give
them all the feed they would use.
Feeding small amount of the scratch
feed in the morning encouraged the
hens to eat more Of the mash. An
attempt was made to get them to con-
sumo about half as much Of the mash
as they did of the grain or scratch
feed Grit and oyster shell were kept
before the hens at all times.
From the tests it appears that the
addition OF protein concentrates of
vegetable origin, such as oil meal,
gluten and cottonseed meal. to a ra-
ton has but little influence on egg
production. Where sour milk or beef
scrap was used the, production was
very nearly double and while the cost
of the ration was increased from 9 to
Is cents per hen per year the extra
profit paid for this ten fold. The on
meal mash was not consumed in as
large quantities as the other mashes,
indicating that the hens did not relish
this az much as they did the other
mashes.
The Following Conclusions Resulting
from These Tests Are Of interest
/. SO far as could be observed the |
hens in all pens we're in perfect health
thruout the entire experiment with
vegetable proteins. No deleterious
effects were observed in the use of the !
cottonseed meal.
2. Beef scrap and Sour milk are
the most economical methods OF sup
plying protein to laying hens
3. Protein concentrates of vege-
table origin alone did not materially
increase egg production.
4. 1t is poor economy not to fur |
nish the laying hen protein copcen-
trate of animal origin.
5. One pound of eggs can be pro-
duced with every four pounds Of feed
if the proper ration is fed.
- 6. The beef scrap ration and the !
sour milk ration appeared to give the
same egg production.
Z. According to these tests, 400
pounds of sour milk is worth "a
pounds Of beef scrap.
1--WE believe it is a great mistake to
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