Pastures 



(See Agronomy) 



Plant Pathology 



(See Botany) 



Poultry Husbandry 



Breeding for Whiter Dominant-White Crosses 



A large nunilier of chickens grown for commercial broiler production 

 today are the offspring of dominant-white males mated with New Hamp- 

 shire females. The commercial broiler grower objects to the presence of 

 red down found in some of these white crosses at hatching time. Fre- 

 quently the buyer of live broilers discriminates in price against chickens 

 with red appearing in the surface plumage compared to pure-white ])roilers. 



A study is underway to determine the effect of several color factors 

 individually and in various combinations on the amount of red surface color 

 f()und in first generation dominant-white crosses. Preliminary results show 

 that the off-spring of two pure White Leghorn males mated with red 

 females differ considerably in the amount and intensity of red evident at 

 liatching and at 12 weeks t)f age. 



The possibility also exists that a color factor or factors may be un- 

 covered by backcrossing which may be important in producing white 

 crosses. 



W. M. Collins, F. L. Cherms. Jr. 



Growth Rate of Durhams and Durham Crosses 



Improved growth rate is one of the objectives in working with both 

 the Durham and W^iite Durham breeds. Some progress has been made this 

 year in improving this character in each of the breeds. 



Crosses of Durliams and White Durhams were made for the first 

 time this year and the crosses compared well with the pure breeds at eight 

 weeks of age. Best growth resulted from the cross of a White Durham 

 male with Durham females- Although the differences are not striking, thev 

 are probably real since the chickens involverl were produced in five separ- 

 ate hatches and reared together. 



MALES 

 Average ^\'eight 



FE^L\LES 

 Average Weight 



White Durhams 



Durhams 



Durham male x White Durham females 



White Durham male x Durham females 



The silver factor has l^een introduced into the W^hite Durhams this 

 \'ear to produce a whiter surface color. 



\\'. M. Collins, F. F. Cherms. [r. 



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