530 BUSINESS MANAGEMENT 



EFFECT OF THE WAR ON POULTRY MANAGEMENT 



(Historical study for comparison.) 



The management survey has been an especially useful means of 

 determining the actual effect of the war, and the conditions growing 

 out of the war, upon the poultry industry. National surveys of the 

 field show that the great poultry producing sections of the corn 

 belt, being the upper Mississippi valley, have not been seriously 

 affected, due to the fact that the flocks in this great area are very 

 small, and that they are k.ept on general farms, and also that 

 they do not constitute a fundamental part of the farming opera- 

 tions. They are a very small side line, and are maintained largely 

 on a scavenger basis, that is, they range about the farm for a large 

 part of their sustenance. Thus, production costs are low, and they 

 do not feel the economic pressure of advanced feed costs, poor 

 transportation and increased labor charges. 



In the two coast areas, however, conditions are very much the 

 reverse. The Atlantic Coast States, and California, are probably 

 the worst sufferers. Some of the more important causes for such 

 conditions are here classified. 



1. Feed- 



Scarcity, which at times reached total absence. 

 Continued exceptionally high prices. 



2. Hard season for poultry 



Adverse weather. 



Low production, below average. 



3. Transportation difficulties 



Delay, embargoes, total loss, breakage, and frozen eggs. 



4. Coal shortage 



For incubation and brooding. 



5. Present egg prices 



As compared with increased cost factors, they were not fair and meant 

 an unprofitable business. 



6. Question as to the future 



Possible government regulations. 

 Egg and meat prices. 

 Feed supply. 



The effect of these adverse factors were very pronounced in 

 limiting production, and causing discouragement and fear to enter 

 the minds of many producers. In analyzing the exact situation 

 presented to commercial poultry growers as a result of the war, the 

 following table showing a comparison of pre-war with war condi- 

 tions will be interesting, as prices remain high. 



