The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-10-07
SECRET OF POULTRY
PROFIT RESTS UPON
PROPER FEEDING

Onlteu SldltS department OA dSIltul-
ture in experimental tests at the gov
ernment poultry farm, Beltsylle, Md,
where different rations have been fed
to various groups of laying hens for
period of eight years. At this time,
more than / l,OC0 hens and pulcts are
used in feeding trials of this kind.
che pens range i'm size from 30 to
80 hens, all of the fowls being trap
nested during the period under test.
During the last three years the mash
which has given the most uniform
and best production has consisted of
mixture of per cent bran. 4 per
cent middlings, % per cent meat scrap
and G6 per cent corn meal This mash
was the result of experiments where
the hens were allowed to select their
own mash ingredients When given
fre, choice of these various feeds, the
fowls consumed the various ingred-
tents in the above proportions. Several
pens, both of l.eghorns and Rhode Is
land Reds Of 30 hens each have aver
aged from 40 TO ljj eggs a piece
where this mash has been fed. The
feeding mixture seems TO be especially
adapted for Leghorns. although 1t has
also given good results with the Reds.
The Wyandottes and Plymouth Rocks
are inclined to accumulate too much
fat when fed this mash, and one some
what lower in meat scrap content
gives better results when bed to these
twJ breeds
Larger Types Gain Weight
The Wyandottes and Plymouth
Rocks maintained on the Beltsvlle
farm are large, standard-size fowls,
and the tendency to take on fat in
this mash probably did not occur in
the case of smaller types of Plymouth
Rocks, such as commonly are found
on commercial poultry farms. Expert
ments conducted during the current
year in which this mash was modified
by the addition of 10 per cent ground
oats and the reduction of the meat
scrap by 3 per cent and the corn
meal by 10 per cent have not shown
any advantage. The evidences are that
ground oats added to the ration pro-
duces no beneficial results II pays
to vary the proportion of grains in the
scratch mixture from an economical
standpoint according to the market
price OF these farm crops. At present
scratch mixture OF parts cracked
corn. . parts oats, and / part wheat
by weight is used with this mash.
In previous years fish meal has not
proved n more profitable and practi-
cval source Of protein in the mash
than meat scrap but during the pre-
sent year the production has been
very good where the fish refuse has
been used and as the price of this
material has decreased, larger net in.
comes result from its use. Sixty per
cent protein fish scrap now can be
obtained for from 81 to 81 per hun
drel pounds cheaper than So per cent
protein meat scrap. Innmneralle var-
eties Of fish scrap nave been fed and
no harmful effects have resulted from
1eedng even fish scrap OF varied COM
positions, some being unusually rich
in oil content Tankage has been fed
against meat scrap as source OF
protein and at this time 60 per
cent protein tankage is available on
The market for 20 cents per 100
pounds less than 55 per cent meat
scrap. conditions which justify the |
extensive use Of tankage as a poultry |
feed Tests in which only 10 per cent |
of meat scrap was fed in the mash /
have not resulted in as high pro
auction with pullets as where 20 10 25 |
per cent Of meat scrap was used, but .
with yearling hens the 16 per cent /
meat scrap has given practically as |
good production as the higher With .
The heavier breeds. il is advisable 10
decrease the amount q meat scrap
during the second year as such feed .
ing tends to keep the fowls in bette, .
breeding condition.
Grain Aids Production
The best results obtain where about /
equal parts mash and scratch grains .
are fed. Feed considerable more /
scratch grain than mash In the fall /
and winter to pullets and about equal /
parts Of each during the late winter I
and spring. and more mash than |
scratch feed during the summer and I
early all. In order To get the fowls .
TO consume the mash freely the recon-.
mended practice is to supply grain in .
small amounts during the morning and .
give n full feed of scratch grains in /
the evening where the hens are fed /
only twice daily. During the fall and .
winter, feed about three times as much .
scratch feed in the evening as in the .
morning and about twice as much .
during the spring and summer Where /
moist mash is fed 1t Is a good practice .
TO mix green feed IN with the mash. /
MS this keeps the hens from getting .
off feed Green feed always has |
proved Of great value on the govern
ment poultry farm and the manage.
ment recommends It's use as freely as
possible.
The use OF semisolid buttcrmlu or
buttermilk, In any form. is particular.
ly practical for pens not receiving any |
green feed the milk apparently having .
an effect on the fowls similar 10 that I
produced by the green feed while .
It also Is high In food value. During
the summer months the extensive
feeding OF butiermilk helps to shorten
the moulting period. IN the instance
Of fowls which dld not eat the dry /
mash freely In the summer months. /
the feeding OF small amount OF mash .
once daily mixed with the butter.
milk was helpful.
AT ARDM0RE BUSINESS col