fertility — a major problem 



Fertility studies are an important 

 phase of current research in turkeys 

 and chickens. Turkey pouhs are 

 sold for $1.00 a pouh. Each in- 

 fertile egg laid by a turkey hen, 

 therefore, markedly increases the 

 production costs of a turkey breed- 

 ing operation and prevents reduc- 

 tion of the high poult price. 



It is well known that artificial 

 insemination improves fertility in 

 turkeys. Research men are still try- 

 ing to find the best way to use this 

 '^'trump card" with natural matings. 

 How often should hens be insemina- 

 ted? What product can best be 

 used diluted with turkey semen? 

 These are some of the still unan- 

 swered questions. 



long range objective 



The long range objective in chick- 

 en and turkey fertility studies is 

 to eliminate the need for artificial 

 insemination. This is hoped to be 

 accomplished by improving fertility 

 through genetics. To this end, 

 therefore, birds have been selected 

 according to their mating frequency 

 and their duration of fertility after 

 mating. 



hormones helpful 



Turkey broilers have improved in 

 growth rate and fat content by the 

 use of synthetic hormones three to 

 four weeks before being dressed. 



Other quality improvement pro- 

 jects are concerned with improving 

 conditions for holding market eggs 

 and improving internal and external 

 egg quality through genetics. 



housing studied 



Our poultry research men and 

 our agricultural engineers have been 



studying low cost poultry housing. 

 Of particular interest have been 

 ventilation systems and housing facil- 

 ities to protect Massachusetts poul- 

 try from the rigors of New England 

 weather The researchers have solved 

 many problems at the college plant 

 and on commercial poultry farms 

 throughout the state. 



results encouraging 



The more recent example of in- 

 dustry cooperation was the forming 

 of a Random Sample Broiler and 

 Turkey Test. Though established 

 and incorporated by Massachusetts 

 poultry and turkey breeders on 

 property adjoining the University, 

 the test is supervised by department 

 personnel. 



Three annual chicken tests and 

 one turkey test give the twenty par- 

 ticipating breeders an opportunity 

 to see how their stock compares with 

 others in growth rate, feed effi- 

 ciency, and mortality. 



In addition to aiding poultry 

 breeders and broiler producers, these 

 tests provide valuable material for 

 department studies. 



Thus far, results have been en- 

 couraging, and with greater antici- 

 pation of the needs of industry, still 

 greater'discoveries will be made. 



Although members of the some family photo- 

 graphed above, these cockerels, unlike their 

 full brothers, are slow-maturing. 



