CUT BONE v. ANIMAL MEAL FOR EGG PRODUCTION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2761, 13 February 1907, Page 36

CUT BONE v. ANIMAL MEAL FOR EGG PRODUCTION.

Animal meal and cut green bone each have their advocates for egg production, and to arrive at a conclusion that may be considered authoritative, Hatch Experiment Station, at Amher«,t. Mass., conducted a test with these two foods on two lota of fowls selected with utmost care with re; spect to similar characteristics in the two Jot*. The trial is reviewed by Mr K. Boyer in '"Artificial Incubating and Brooding." The two lots of fowl* used consisted each of three barred Plymouth Rock hen», eight light Brahma hens, six light Brahms pullets, and two Wyandotte-bght Brahma pullets. The hens were one and) three-otuarters years old when the- experiment began. Bach lot, of 19 fowls, occupied a detached house having two compartments, respectively Bffc x 12ft and 10ft xt 12ftr*in size, and comfortably and healthfully fitted. The houses were practically the same in evry particular. The two lots were fed as follows: — In the morning> they received a mash, which was mixed hot the previous evening ; at noon, and agaio about sundown, whole grain was scattered in the straw of the scratching ahede. Artificial grit, oyster shells, and pure water were kept always before them.

The leading details and results are shownin the accompanying table: —

-•!!-. „•s! f.! 79 days. *§,! S |»1 *£* | lba, cts. lbs. ct*. Cut bone lot 28>"5 £2 269 »40 T2 Animal meal lot ...287 ' '22 145 1-796 22

The food received by the lot having ctrt bone-was as follows fin pounds):—Whole wheat, 99.5; oats, 100; wheat bran. 18.5; wheat middlings, 18.5; gluten meal, 18.5; ground clover. 18.5; cut bone. 10. 'fatal, 283.51b; cost, 3.25d01; nutritive ratio, 1:4.8. The other lot received essentially the same foods, except that in pace of bon« it got 9.71b of animal meal. Total food, 2871b; cost, 3.26d01; nutritive ratio, 1:4.9. In the above estimate of cost the labour required to cut the bone is included. The results indicate a decided advantage in favour of the bone. There was no perceptible difference either m the condition t of the fowls in the two lots or in the size or character of the eggs produced. Mr Boyer, after dealing with the above experiment, commenting- upon the value of green bone for egg-production, &»ys that it will double egg yield, but it must be ( fed fresh, the same day it is cut, and not too liberally. He feeds it as a separate meal twice a. week to all ages of birds over a week old during- the entire year, as a substitute for bugs, etc., because his pre- , rrri&es will not allow of a range for his . flocks. I