188 Farm Poultry 



uct in the form of eggs or meat, or both. It may 

 also be considered largely as the basis of improve- 

 ment in breeds and varieties, and is often spoken 

 of as the cause, and breed as the effect. While 

 this may not be strictly true in all cases, yet all 

 authorities believe that food has been a most potent 

 factor in the improvement of breeds if not the 

 chief cause. 



The profit in feeding comes from the food con- 

 sumed in excess of that required for the main- 

 tenance of the body. If the individual makes 

 good use of the food consumed, that which is not 

 required for maintenance should be directed chiefly 

 toward the production of merchantable articles. 

 It should not be held, however, that all of the 

 food consumed in excess of that required to main- 

 tain the body may be devoted to the production 

 of eggs or meat. As the ration is increased, the 

 work required of the fowls to digest and assimilate 

 this food is also increased. So no matter whether 

 the animal be a hen or a cow, the physical organ- 

 ization is required to do more work on a full ration 

 than on a light one, and food is required to supply 

 energy for this increased work. 



There is little danger of overfeeding laying 

 hens if the proper kind of food is given. The diffi- 

 culty lies in not being able to secure fowls that 

 are, sufficiently strong to digest and assimilate 

 enough food to give the greatest profit. A strong 



