154 



SCIENTIFIC AGRICULTURE. 



January. 1922. 



The Character of Foundation Stock. 



Some 900 females of the different breeds 

 are kept on the University Farm at Point 

 Grey. Each one of these birds is trap- 

 nested, and full records are kept of egg 

 numbers, size of egg, quality of egg, brood- 

 iness, moulting, etc. Trapnesting is fol- 

 lowed by pedigree breeding, pedigree 

 hatching and rearing. Very rigorous selec- 

 tion is carried on at all times for vigor, 

 type and other desirable breed character- 

 istics. 



The foundation stock in S. C. White 

 Leghorns consisted of a pen of 10 hens as 

 bred by Professor Dryden at the Oregon 

 Agrieuitural College, Corvallis. Such fa- 



VVhite Leghorn Hen B. 501 that had laid 317 

 eggs when photo was taken on November 10. 

 She is two thirds moulted and does not stop lay- 

 ing. A typical long distance producer. 



mous long distance layers as A27 that laid 

 240, 222, 202, 155, 168, 139, and 61 eggs 

 in as many successive years,H38N that laid 

 139, 197, 200, 181, 179, 120 and 80 eggs; 

 E248, one of the first official 300-egg 

 hens; E21, that laid 259, 249, 172 and 215 

 eggs, all appear quite frequently in the ex- 

 tended pedigrees. The progeny of these 

 hens ^as been distributed very \^ndely to 

 improve laying flocks in the stares to the 

 south of us. Professor Lunn, who found- 

 ed the department, also secured from 

 0. A. C. two cockerels, Nos. 2671 and 2735, 



of similar breeding, to furnish good breed- 

 ing lines. 



This 0. A. C. stock was supplemented by 

 stock from some of the best known B. C. 

 breeders. These birds came from flocks 

 that were noted for hig^i average oroduc- 

 tion and have shown splendid vitality and 

 good production under University tests. 

 Two years' Tests with Leghorns. 



In two years' tests, as conducted up to 

 the present, the breeding work has con- 

 sisted largely of testing out a large num- 

 ber of pen matings for the purpose of 

 eliminating as quickly as possible the poor- 

 er breeders. The standard set for the good 

 breeder includes reasonably high produc- 

 tion in the dam herself in tvhe pullet year ; 

 later on due credit is given for long dis- 

 tance production. Under British Columbia 

 conditions, the first year mark is set ap- 

 proximately at 200 eggs or better, and 150 

 eggs or better in at least two succeeding 

 years. Eggs must be of Dominion Govern- 

 ment standard size for extras, at least two 

 ounces each in weight, of pure white color, 

 and of strong, smooth, fine shell texture. 

 The dam must prove herself capable of re- 

 producing her kind by giving a consider- 

 able number of daughters that lay a high 

 average. Complete records of fertility, 

 hatc]iability and livability of chicks are 

 kept. Leghorn type, size and vigor are 

 constantly under observation and are em- 

 phasized in selection. 



Out of the diverse breeding material a 

 few promising breeders have been found. 

 Hen No. 26 is a fair individual of the breed, 

 having laid 226, 18-5 and 164 eggs that av- 

 erage 2.08 ounces in weight. This hen 

 has produced 10 daughters, 8 of which 

 have laid from 204 to 267 eggs in their 

 pullet year, wjiile two of them have laid 

 197 and 153 eggs, respectively. This consti- 

 tutes an average of 216 two- ounce eggs per 

 bird. The eggs of No. 26 are 96.6 per cent 

 fertile and hatch 76 per cent efficiently. 

 The continued reproduction and multipli- 

 cation of this family seems desirable. 



Hen No. 56 laid 169, 175 and 181 eggs 

 weighing 2.07 ounces, in her first three 

 years. This hen produced five daughters 

 that laid 234 eggs average in their pullet 

 years. Fertility and hatchability in this 

 ^en in two j^ears testing have been 100 

 per cent. Such reproductive ability should, 



