cost in producing a pound of broiler by obtaining better feed efficiency. 

 There is a large range in feed efficiencies obtained. For example, in the First 

 . New Hampshire Broiler Test, there was a feed efficiency difference of 2.49 

 and 2.77 for two strains of chickens when they reached a 3.00 pound aver* 

 age weight. The importance of this feed efficiency difference may be ex- 

 pressed in the following calculations. Comparing two flocks with feed 

 efficiencies of 2.49 and 2.77. respectively, a difference of 0.28 pounds of 

 feed is used to produce a pound of broiler. If a broiler grower has 10,000 

 chickens which average three pounds and feed costs five cents a pound, this 

 difference of 0.28 in feed efficiency results in a decreased feed cost of about 

 S420 for the mor.? efficient flock. This is an out-of-pocket saving of about 

 $40 per week. 



Among the factors which affect feed efficiency are the age of the chick- 

 ens, the breed, the strain within a breed, the feed, the ability of the oper- 

 ator to prevent feed wastage, and the season of the year. If the broiler 

 grower is to profit from better feed efficiency, he must understand how these 

 factors affect feed efficiencv and he must capitalize on their favorable aspects. 



Cost of Chicks — Moles vs. Females 



The cost of chicks is the second largest cost in producing broilers. In 

 Table 1, it will be noted that the male chickens have a better feed efficiency 

 and are considerably larger at any age than the females. It may also be 

 pointed out that at times male chicks are available at a lower price than 

 female or straight-run chicks. These facts point to greater profit in raising 

 all male chickens. Due to the fact that male chickens have a better feed effici- 

 ency and growth rate than female chickens, a 10,000 flock of 12-week old 

 males would net about S500 more than would a straight-run flock of the 

 same number at the same age. This is calculated under 1952 conditions and 

 assumes male chicks and straight-run chicks were purchased for the same 

 price. This would indicate that the broiler grower could afford to pay up 

 to five cents more for male chicks than for straight-run, provided the chicks 

 were all from the same strain. 



On the other hand, if pullets are raised to more than a four and one- 

 half pound average, many times during the year a higher price per pound 

 may be obtained for females than for males. At least three cents more per 

 pound must be received for four and one-half pound pullets than for four 

 and one-half pound straight-run flocks in order to make raising pullets for 

 meat as profitable as straight-run flocks under 1952 conditions. 



Prices Received for Broilers 



The price received for broilers is perhaps the largest variable affecting 

 broiler profits. Assume a broiler grower has 10,000 chickens which average 

 three pounds. An increase of one cent in price received would amount to 

 about $300 additional income. This is an increase of about $30 per week. 

 A few cents difference in the price received for broilers often determines the 

 profit or loss to the broiler grower. 



Figure 3 indicates the price received on New Hampshire farms foi 

 chickens at various weights by weekly intervals for 1951. The important 

 point to be noted is that a large price spread between weights prevails at 

 some periods while a small price spread exists at other periods. This chart 



