FOOD TOR STOCK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20229, 13 April 1929, Page 18

FOOD TOR STOCK.

I THE PERFECT. RATION. BALANCED CONCENTRATES. At one time when our knowledge of animal nutrition was infinitesimal as compared with that of to-day, proprietary feeding stuffs were made up more or less indiscriminately. But now feeding stuffs makers, in tho face of strong competition and as a result of scientific knowledge, are balancing their cakes and meals in accordance with the most up-to-date findings on animal nutrition and with due regard to practical considerations. The larger firms not only employ highly-skilled chemists and other laboratory workers, but they test out in tho most searching way all new mixtures before placing them on tho market. It may be said, in fact, that our physiologists supply what may bo termed tho technical data, and manufacturers dot the i's and cross the t's in tho practical application o( the results of the scientist's investigations. My own impression is that tho scientific worker is somewhat reluctant to give adequate blessing to the praiseworthy work of tho manufacturers, says a writer in the Farmer and Stockbreeder. It was, therefore, with pleasure that I read the remarks by Dr. J. B. Orr, Director of the Rowett Institute, to the effect that the feeding cakes and meals offered by the larger companies were now balanced up in ,tho light of tho most recent scientific knowledge. The same cannot, unfortunately, be said of the mixtures used on many farms. Cheapness, while essential in these times of narrow profits, is of secondary importance to the employment of a mixture from which the greatest possible liveweight gain for each pound fed can be obtained. Tho day when barley meal and middlings was regarded as a suitable ration for pigs is rapidly passing, but there aro still many—and I know of several in my own immediate district —who save pence on tho purchase of unbalanced foods, and by so doing add materially to costs of production. Tho dearest foodstuff of all is, generally speaking, that which the representative of a little-known firm thrusts upon one at market; the next dearest is that which one attempts to make up solely on price consideration. Tho cheapest is that which one knows to bo balanced correctly for the particular class of stock for which it is intended. In this connection, adds tho writer, I was attracted by tho claims made in a pamphlet received a few weeks ago from a large firm of millers who, by adopting tho advico of one of the leading scientific workers, made up three pig mixtures from which exceptionally good results were received. One feeder claimed that he secured lib. live weight for less than 2slb. of balanced, mixture. The adoption of this ration, it is stated, enables one to produce a 10 scoro pig in 23 weeks at a cost of £2 15s, against 30 weeks at £4 2s 6d. when barley meal and sharps aro used, and 27 weeks at £3 15s when tho pigs are fed on barley meal, sharps and fish or meat I meal.