efficiency was improved to slight significance. Economically this ration sup- 

 plemented with methionine is not feasible because the level of methionine 

 used was too high. It is possible that a lower level of methionine may give 

 the same results and be feasible economically. 



R. C. Ringrose, L. M. Potter 



High Efficiency Feeds Satisfactory for Breeders. 



It is generally conceded that the use of a "high efficiency" or "high 

 energy" feed for broilers results in the most profit. Yet when feeds incorpor- 

 ating the same principles are offered to poultrymen for laying birds there 

 is some reluctance to use them. During the past year five experimental high 

 efficiency type feeds have been studied in comparison with a standard type 

 feed for breeding birds during a period of eight months. 



On each of the high efficiency rations egg production was better than 

 with the standard type ration. The increase in production ranged from 12 to 

 27 percent. With the standard type ration it required 7.43 pounds of feed to 

 produce a dozen eggs. Feed efficiency for the high efficiency rations also was 

 improved and varied between 5.98 and 6.91 pounds per dozen eggs. This 

 represents an average decrease of 13 percent in feed required to produce a 

 dozen eggs. If one assumes a feed cost of five cents per pound, then feed 

 cost per dozen eggs was reduced from 2*/2 to T^/o cents per dozen depending 

 upon the ration selected to use. 



There were differences in hatchability of the eggs produced on the vari- 

 ous rations. Since the number of hatches was small they are of doubtful 

 significance. No ration gave a hatchability below 73 percent. 



R. C. Ringrose, L. M. Potter 



How Much Protein for Egg Production with Meat-Type New Hampshires? 



It is the feeling of some poultrymen that meat-type New Hampshire 

 hens require more protein for egg production than do production strains of 

 New Hampshires. This belief is probably based on the fact that the meat 

 strains are considerably larger and heavier birds than are the egg strains. 



In an experiment of eight months duration levels of fifteen and eighteen 

 percent protein were fed to duplicate pens of meat-type New Hampshires. In 

 addition another set of duplicate pens were alternated from fifteen to eight- 

 teen to fifteen, etc., percent protein every four weeks. 



No significant differences developed between the pens. The small differ- 

 ences that did occur were mostly in favor of the fifteen percent protein level. 

 This is the level recommended and in widespread usage today. 



Percent production 

 Feed per dozen eggs, lbs. 

 Weight gain, lbs. 

 Hatchability, percent 



R. C. Ringrose, L. M. Potter 

 39 



