The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1924-07-04
Montana GRAINS THAT Prove
Best for Poultry Feeding

ten meal is high IN protein and lat,
a highly concentrated food, and ii
should comprise only a small portion
of the ration. 1t is not easily obtain
able in Montana.
Wheat-Wheat is only slightly less
digestible than corn as poultry
| feed. 1t is better balanced and US
ually is recognized as the most vaul-
able single grain for poultry. 1t is
slightly higher in protein than corn,
little lower in carbohydrates and
much lower in fat. Wheat is easily
obtainable in this state and should
have a prominent place in all poultry
rations. Frosted or shrunken wheat
contains a larger proportion of pro-
tein than plump wheat and is there
| fore more valuable as poultry feed.
Wheat middlings are high in car
| bohydrates and fat but lower in pro-
tein than bran. Middlings should be
more finely ground than bran and
contains larger proportion of the in
ner layers of the wheat kernel, ap-
preaching a low-grade of flour in
quality and appearance. Middlings
should be used as one of the ingred-
tents of mash.
ID oil 10 up CooShb1eSAAJ VI b1lC
outer coating of the wheat kernel
1t is fairly high in protein but is high
in fibre and relatively low in digest
Utility. 1t is valued somewhat as a
laxative. Too much bran should not
be used in the makeup of ration.
Shorts are the poorer grade of
middlings, containing considerable
finely ground bran. The quality of
middlings, bran and shorts varies
considerably throughout the country.
Oats-Oats probably rank next to
wheat and corn as food for poultry
Whole oats are high in fibre, this be-
ing the chief objection to feeding
them in large quantities. They can,
however, be used profitsbly in the
scratch ration if they are of good
quality.
Hulled oats and oatmeal are both
valuable as poultry feeds. Oatmeal
is high both in protein and in fat and
ranks with other grains in carbohy-
drate content. For poultry it supplies
more digestible nutrients than any
other grain. 1t is, however, usually
high in price.
Barley-Barley is a grain quite1
easily obtained in this state and usu-
ally is not very high priced. 1t is
not so readily digested as either corn
or wheat. In some cases it is neces-
sary for the birds to learn to like
this grain before they will eat it.
Ground barley is useful in mash. Ex-
periments at the Montana Experiment
Station have shown that it can be /
used to replace corn in
fattening ration.
Rye-Rye is a common grain but
does not seem to be greatly relished
by poultry. 1t is fairly high in pro-
.ein and carbohydrates but low in fat.
There has been some criticism of rye
when fed to poultry, owners claiming
hat it forms poison causing death.
There is no experimental research
hat proves this statement.
Peas-Peas, if cracked, may be
lsed successfully in the scratch ra-
ion. They are particularly high in
protein but low in carbohydrates and
at They have not been economic
lily important on large scale be-
,ause they are usually the by-pro-
luct of the canning industry and
therefore, limited in the amount
AVAILABLE for animal feeding.
Spelts-Spelts, though raised quite
widely in the state, are not recon-
nended as a poultry feed. The ex-
essive hull reduces the digestibility
o a large extent. Where large ,
mounts are raised they may be used
n the scratch ration, but should not
make more than 10 per cent of the {
alton.
Millet-Millet may be used in the :
cratch ration in small quantities and
he supply varies to such an extent |.
IS to make it economically unim- l
'ortant.