2. More careful inspection and repair of shipping cases is advised to 

 reduce breakage of eggs in transit. 



3. Since egg breakage in the corners of the cases is much higher 

 than in other locations, special notice should be taken of the condition of 

 the corners of flats and fillers. 



4. Since about 40 percent of the breakage from farm to hatchery oc- 

 curs at the farm, greater care in checking and packing for shipment seems 

 desirable. 



5. Since the heaviest breakage in any layer occurs in the top layer 

 in the case, special attention should be given in checking tops of cases, 

 and in furnishing extra flats or pads to top the layers. 



6. Oversize cases are recommended for the larger sizes of hatching 

 eggs to permit additional space and extra protective pads or flats. 



7. Shippers should give constructive criticism on shipments for each 

 of their producers. 



8. While high hatchability is probably rewarded in one way or an- 

 other, consideration to methods of giving it specific recognition ( as some 

 are doing ) seems advisable. 



9. Hatching egg producers should give consideration to producing 

 strains of birds in strong demand or with such potentialities. There may 

 be no best strain, but there are some which are in much greater dem.ind 

 and bring higher premiums than others. Base decisions on facts plus care- 

 ful judgment. 



Summary 



1. The poultry industry is New Hampshire's largest agricultural 

 enterprise, in terms of gross return, accounting for 44 percent of all gross 

 agricultural income in 1949. 



2. The New Hampshire breed has gained rapidly in ])opularity and 

 now leads all breeds in National Poultry Improvement Plan flocks. 



3. An aggressive program in disease eradication has materially aided 

 New Hampshire's hatching egg sales. The percent of infected birds (pul- 

 lorum) reached a low of .002 of 1 percent in 1950-51. 



4. New Hampshire's reported chick hatchings in relation to total 

 eggs produced is the largest for any New England State. 



5. Barred crosses account for over half the hatching eggs and New 

 Hampshires make up about 40 percent of the total. 



6. New Hampshire hatcheries reported about 31 percent of the chicks 

 going to New England, 36 percent to Middle Atlantic states and 21 percent 

 to Southern states. 



7. Almost three-quarters of the hatching eggs went for broiler pur- 

 poses, one-quarter for layers. 



8. Hatching eggs made up about two-thirds of all egg sales of hatch- 

 ing egg producers. 



9. The percent of all eggs going for hatching eggs varied from about 

 68 percent in spring to low- of 63 percent in summer. 



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