Intensity of Artificial Illumination and Its Effect 

 upon Production by New Hampshires 



Many of our laying pens are pocirly illuminated, the builds being 

 of low wattage and covered with dust. Recent recommendations have in- 

 cluded : ( 1 ) that a light-meter reading of at least two candle-foot power 

 he obtained on the feeders, (2) that from one- to two-watts per four 

 square feet be provided, and (3) that work at the Dutch Agricultural 

 University using 1.500-watt bulbs for short periods gave promising re- 

 sults. In order to provide some data on this subject, an experiment was 

 set up using 50-, 100-. and 200-watt bulbs. 

 The results obtained were as follows : 



Pen Xo. 



Treatment 



Eggs per Bird Feed per Bird 



A No Lights 



B 50 watts (1 per 4 sq. ft.) 



C 100 watts (2 per 4 sq. ft.) 



D 200 watts (4 per 4 sq. ft.) 



While the data indicates that the pen with the highest intensity of 

 illumination had the highest production, it is not conclusive since the 50- 

 watt pen had higher production than the 100-watt pen, thus indicating 

 that intensity is not an iiuportant factor. 



W. C. Skoglund 



Shank Pigmentation in Broilers 



Shank color is a factor when the price of live coiumercial broilers is 

 determined at the farm. The degree of yellow color in the skin and shanks 

 of chickens is influenced by certain poultry diseases and can also be modi- 

 fied by small changes in the content of the ration. There are indications 

 that shank pigmentation is influenced by genetic factors, but this has not 

 been conclusively demonstrated. 



A study to determine whether there are important breed and strain 

 differences in degree of shank pigmentation was begun during the first 

 trial of the 1953 New Hampshire Broiler Test. Preliminary results indi- 

 cate that there are significant differences in shank pigmentation l)etween 

 the New Hampshire and White Plymouth Rock breeds, and also between 

 strains within each of these two breeds. The study will include strains 

 of these two breeds which are entered in three trials of the 1953 Broiler 

 Test. 



W. M. Collins, S. C. Th.wer 



Better Methods for the Application of the B| Newcastle 

 Virus for the Prevention of Newcastle Disease 



The greatest difficulty in imnutnizing against Newcastle disease with 

 the Blacksburg strain, commonly known as the intranasal strain, has been 

 the route of inoculation. Within the past year it has been found possible 

 to spray the vaccine at two to three days of age without handling the chicks. 

 According to laboratory test, a definite resistance can be stimuated in this 

 manner. In order to prove the practicability of such methods some 156.000 



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