INBREEDING IN RELATION TO EGG PRODUCTION 265 



high egg production. The plan was to establish several inbred groups repre- 

 senting different degrees of inbreeding and to continue these groups as such for 

 a period of years. It was also thought necessary to establish several definite 

 types of check groups with which to compare the different inbred groups. 



Plan of Matings — 1923 



Birds Available. — In the 1923 matings one hen (No. C 1124) and six of her 

 daughters were used, one inbred hen (C 4746) coming from brother-sister mating, 

 one outside "Standard"-bred male (C 75411), one male (C 5085) from brother- 

 sister mating, male C 4658 not inbred but of straight Station breeding, male 

 C 4884 a half brother (common sire) to the six sisters used in the experiment, 

 and male C 1616 the sire of the six sisters used. Male C 1616 was out of hen 

 B 8316 with a pullet year record of 279 eggs. She was broody three times. His 

 paternal granddam was B 699 with a record of 222 eggs and non-broody. His 

 maternal granddam had a record of 186 and was non-broody. Male C 1616 had 

 a very mediocre progeny record in 1922 in that his daughters from three hens 

 averaged only 166 eggs. All birds were single comb Rhode Island Reds and all 

 had been bred without introducing outside stock for seven years until males 

 C 75411 and C 75450 were brought in as cockerels for these experiments from 

 a "Standard"-bred flock. 



Check Groups. 



1. Two full sisters (not inbred) Nos. C 6127 and C 6286, mated to "Standard"- 

 bred male C 75411. 



2. A third sister (C 5465), mated to inbred male C 5085 coming from brotl^er- 

 sister mating. 



3. An inbred female (C 4746) from brother-sister mating, mated to "Standard"- 

 bred male C 75411. 



Inbred Groups. 



4. A fourth sister (C 6287), mated to her cousin (C 4658). 



5. A fifth sister (C 5746), mated to her half brother (C 4884) (common sire). 



6. Foundation dam (C 1124), mated to her nephew (C 4658). 



7. A sixth sister (C 5745), mated to her sire (C 1616). 



Table 4. — Character of Female Breeders — 1923 



Table 4 shows the character of the females used as breeders for their pullet- 

 laying year. Attention is again directed to the fact that all of the above females, 

 except C 4746 and C 1124, were full sisters, and that C 1124 was their mother 



