210 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Selective inbreeding in six brother-and-sister matings of Single- 

 Comb Wliite Leghorns was begun in 1922, and chicks from the first 

 series of these matings were obtained in the following spring. Vigor, 

 early maturity, and general good quality are the desirable character- 

 istics sought in making these matings. 



POtJI-TEY FEEDING. 



Thirty-two pens of fowls, about one-fourth of which were j^ear- 

 lings, were used in feeding investigations. A part of this work is in 

 verification of previous tests in the use of varying quantities and 

 kinds of animal and vegetable proteins. 



Rations containing several of the vegetable proteins have been 

 used again in various combinations with animal proteins and dried- 

 milk products. The use of these vegetable proteins seems to be 

 chiefly supplementary to the animal proteins, although one of the 

 vegetable protein rations, with an added mineral mixture of bone 

 phosphate, sodium chlorid, and calcium carbonate, is giving fairly 

 satisfactory results. 



The use of gluten meal seems to have an excellent effect on fowls 

 during the molting season, and a small percentage has been added to 

 the ration in several pens. Comparisons of costs in the use of dried 

 or flaked milk, dried buttermilk, and semisolid buttermilk are being 

 made. 



The mash used successfully as a breeding and laying mash for the 

 general-purpose breeds, containing only about 17 per cent of meat 

 scrap and 33 per cent of ground oats and bran, continues to give 

 good results, j)articularly in hatchability and fertility of eggs. The 

 more stimulating rations seem to cause an overfat condition in the 

 general-purpose breeds, especially during the second year of pro- 

 duction. 



The effect of feeding rations on the vitamin content of eggs and 

 their fertility and hatdiability is being studied. 



Substantial progress has been made in an experiment in coopera- 

 tion with the Biochemic Division to determine the content of vita- 

 mins A and B in the flesh, gizzard, heart, and liver of fat hens of 

 three or more general-purpose breeds of poultry, and also in eggs 

 and in frying chickens fed on different rations. 



SOUTH WESTERN POULTBY INVESTIGATIONS. 



Breeding and feeding investigations with poultry are being carried 

 on at Glendale, Ariz. Considerable data on southwestern conditions 

 have been assembled. . . 



The Bronze Turkey breeding stock purchased last year is m a 

 thrifty condition. Investigations in the various phases of turkey 

 production will probably become the main line of research at this 

 station. 



PIGEON AND SQUAB INVESTIGATIONS. 



Squab-breeding investigations have been continued with White 

 Kings and Carneaux. Further information on feed costs in squab 

 production has been obtained, as well as additional data on weights 

 and rate of growth in breed comparison. 



