BREEDING AND SELECTION OF 

 COMMERCIAL POULTRY. 



BY H. E. UPTON, PROVINCIAL POULTRY L\srur< IOK. 



HERE is probably nothing in the poultry world to-day receiving so much 

 attention as commercial or utility poultry. Infallible systems for 

 selection are advertised in many forms and ways, yet the hen goes on 

 about her work, and many are still guessing. The majority will -agree 

 tli at some of the systems are good as far as they go. Much has been, 

 and can still be, written on this important phase of the poultry busi- 

 ness. The fact still remains, that if a hen has not the breeding ability, 

 constitution, capacity, quality, and bone which are essential, she can 

 licit her he a good producer nor reproducer. The fowl that is lacking or poorly 

 developed in any one of these points, irrespective of any of the others, cannot 

 respond profitably nor economically to the food and care given her. 



This bulletin is written to give information on the selection and building up or 

 keeping up the strong breeding characteristics of the stock without sacrificing egg 

 production. It is not supposed to be information on how to pick out the best layer 

 or to tell how many eggs a hen can or will lay in a year. Our endeavour is to 

 assist one and all to build up a good laying strain of birds. And, further, after one 

 has achieved this result, this bulletin, we trust, will prove useful in assisting the 

 breeder to keep up the size and vigour without any sacrifice. 



One must be able to reasonably presume that an extra good laying pullet will 

 pass on this characteristic to her progeny if s-he is to be of any value. To do this 

 properly the ancestry of the strain and individuals must be known. 



ANCESTRY IS FIRST NECESSITY. 



Biological influences and differences play a great part in breeding, yet they are 

 not mentioned in many instances. Because a strain or individual proves good in the 

 first generation is not good enough. It must prove good in its progeny as well. 

 The only way this can come about is by understanding how to breed properly. This 

 can neither be done by measurements or mathematical calculations, nor without 

 knowing the ancestral blood lines. 



Ancestry is the first thing or foundation from which to breed. One must know 

 in mating up his stock what blood lines are being used. The breeder can then go 

 in work with the printed score and select his stock for commercial purposes, pro- 

 viding he carefully reads the detailed matter relating to the score-card. 



We have endeavoured, in getting up this score-card, to benefit by the experience 

 of others in their score-card work, and using our experience with it in an endeavour 

 to give the public of our best. 



To try and make all points plain we will discuss each point in detail. 



Firstly: What Is a utility male? A utility male hird is one that is true to 

 type, which is so constituted. as to be capable of begetting utility females and males, 

 and also capable of producing marketable flesh in profitable quantity; whose exact 

 conformity to exhibition standard 1 points is of secondary consideration, where such 

 appears to conflict with what we understand as egg-producing requirements at the 

 present time. 



Secondly: What is a utility female? A utility female bird is one which is 

 true to type, which is so constituted as to be capable of producing, firstly, market- 

 able eggs ; secondly, marketable flesh, both in profitable quantity ; whose exact con- 

 formity to exhibition standard points is of secondary consideration, when such 

 appears to conflict with what are understood to be egg-producing requirements at 

 the present time. 



