BTJKEAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 89 



of the American breeds for egg production longer than the first 

 laying year. The highest egg yield was secured from a pen of Leg- 

 horns, which averaged 158 eggs each and produced eggs at a feed 

 cost of 6.7 cents a dozen. The average egg yield of all these pens for 

 the first year was 131.7 eggs. The egg yield for the second year was 

 92.7, a decline of 39. The average feed cost per dozen eggs for all 

 pens for the first year was 10 cents and for the second year 14 cents. 

 Studies have been made of the feeding values of fish meal and 

 cottonseed meal compared with beef scrap. The hens fed on fish 

 meal have laid nearly as many eggs as those fed beef scrap for a 

 similar length of time. Unsatisfactory results have been obtained 

 from the pens fed cottonseed meal, only about one-half as many eggs 

 being laid by these hens as by those fed beef scrap, while the eggs 

 cost from 20 to 50 per cent more to produce. Some of the eggs from 

 the pens fed cottonseed meal have had spotted and discolored yolks, 

 which practically spoil them from a market standpoint. Experi- 

 ments are being conducted to determine the cause of these discolored 

 yolks. 



POULTRY BREEDING. 



Poultry breeding experiments at Beltsville have also been con- 

 tinued. The hens which were put in the trap-nest pens last year as 

 pullets are now being trap-nested for the second year, while about 90 

 pullets are being trapped for their first year. Males from some of 

 the females whose egg-production record had been determined were 

 used in the mating last spring. 



Matings have been made in an attempt to concentrate the blood of 

 some of the better producing lines and individuals, and studies are 

 being made of the effects of mating birds of the poorer-producing 

 lines. Selection has also been made of some of the earlier-producing 

 pullets, and it is planned to continue selection along this line. About 

 500 or 600 chickens from the various matings are being reared with 

 which to continue the lines of breeding. 



Incidentally, a considerable amount of data is being secured on the 

 behavior of certain characters in inheritance, on the time required 

 to break up broody hens when fed and when not fed, and on the time 

 elapsing from going broody until laying is resumed, under both 

 treatments. Records are also being kept on the weight of individual 

 eggs laid by certain females during their first year of laying. 



Progress has been made in the cross-breeding work, particularly 

 in securing more chickens showing pure white plumage, a greater 

 proportion of yellow legs, of the normal number of toes, and of 

 red ear lobes. Some of the individuals are showing fairly well the 

 type desired. 



Two motion-picture films, showing many of the methods employed 

 at the poultry plant, have been in almost constant use during the 

 year. 



POULTRY CLUBS. 



Poultry clubs for boys and girls are being formed and conducted 

 in cooperation with the States Relations Service of the department 

 and the State agricultural colleges in Virginia, North Carolina, 



