328 (STATE BOARD OF AGRlCTTLTURE 



diseases particularly Bacillary White Diarrhea, Avia Tuberculosis, 

 Chicken Pox, Roup, Fowl Typhoid and Fowl Cholera. Flocks are now 

 being tested in a wholesale way for Bacillary White Diarrhea under the 

 supervision of Dr. Stafseth. All birds sent into the Department for diag- 

 nosis are also handled in this way. In addition to this service Dr. 'Staf- 

 seth has attended several field meetings, poultry tours and association 

 meetings on subjects pertaining to diseases of poultry. 



Poultry culling demonstrations have during the past year occupied 

 the greater part of the specialists' time from June 1st to October 1st. 

 Lectures on rearing chicks, incubation, brooding and care of growing 

 stock made up the spring Avork. Fall and winter meetings are given 

 over to discussion and lectures on poultry house construction, feeding 

 for production, plant numagement and disease control. 



The number of demonstration farms are being established this year 

 in various counties. Only liocks of good quality are being used for this 

 purpose. It is essentially a breeding proposition with the object in view 

 of supplying eggs and stock of high quality to the surrounding commu- 

 nity. These flocks will be culled and the breeding stock selected each 

 year by the extensi(^n specialist. Kecords as to the amount and cost 

 of feed consumed, number of eggs produced, the time of matching in 

 relation to j)rofit are being kept by the flock owner. These records 

 extending over a period of years will prove of interest showing as they 

 will the eftVct of selective breeding and careful culling in relation to 

 egg production. 



Demonstrations and meetings will be held at these farms during the 

 year to discuss timely subjects of interest with poultry men. 



Five of the more popular breeds namely. Barred Rocks, White Leg- 

 horns, Rhode Island Reds, White iWA^andottes and Anconas are being 

 used and it is our intention to popularize these breeds and by so doing 

 reduce the number of breeds kept thus standardizing poultry products. 

 The extension staff has not been large enough to carry out this work 

 on a scale as large as was antici]>ated. However, a nund)er of farms have 

 been inspected, sujiplied with the proper forms and are now keeping 

 records. The counties in which these farms are located are: Berrien — 1, 

 Cass — 2, Branch — 1, Barry — 5, Livingston — 7, St. Clair — ;}, Huron — 3, 

 Antrim — 1, Benzie— 1, Kent — 1. 



The Poultry Department and the Michigan Baby Chick Association 

 are co-operating in a i)roject to improve the quality of the stock sent 

 out as baby chicks by the hatcheries. Numerous complaints were made 

 at culling demonstrations during the summer by people who had pur- 

 chased baby chicks and received inferior stock. It is hoped that by the 

 system of certification the public will have greater confidence in the baby 

 chick industry. 



During the late summer and early fall the hatchery men culled the 

 farm flocks which su]>plied them with hatching eggs. These flocks are 

 in turn insjiected ])v an extension specialist who scores them accordingly 

 to a score card. This report is submitted to a certification commrttee, 

 elected by the Association wliose function it is to pass the stock or 

 reject it. Up to the present time l.'>0 flocks have been inspected for this 

 purpose. 



It is hoped that the culling work can be put on such a basis that there 



