6 



X. H. Agr. Experiment Station 



[Bulletin 312 



cerned (Table IV). All groups ranged between a high consumption of 

 11.544 pounds and a low consumption of 9.335 pounds of feed per bird for 

 the 12-week period. In feather development there was apparently no 

 difference among the groups. Table VI shows that relatively little mor- 

 tality occurred in any of the groups during the starting period. The loss 

 of five chicks in Group 9 could not be explained as being due to the 

 ration. Autopsies of the chicks which died showed the cause of death 

 in all cases to be pneumonia. 



In a comparison of the 12 groups on a basis of efficiency of feed utiliza- 

 tion (Table V) , using as a guide the number of pounds of feed consumed 

 per pound gain in weight, we find the mixed animal protein groups (10, 

 11, and 12) the most efficient. These groups were closely followed by the 

 fish meal lots which in turn were followed by the dried skimmilk and 

 meat scrap groups. The most efficient was Group 3 with a feed con- 

 sumption of 3.38 pounds per pound of gain and the least efficient was 

 Group 1 with a feed consumption of 4.37 pounds. These two groups were 

 fed 19 and 15 per cent meat scrap, respectively. 



Growing Period (13-23 Weeks) 



As previously mentioned, from all groups at the age of 12 weeks, there 

 was selected a representative group of ten pullets for the experimental 

 unit. In the case of Groups 8 and 9 only nine and eight pullets respec- 

 tively were available for use. These, however, received treatment similar 

 to all the other groups which had the full complement of ten pullets. 

 The same feed in all-mash form was continued as during the first gro^^'th 

 period. Table III shows that the final weights per chick at 23 weeks of 

 age in each group liave maintained a somewhat similar relationship to 

 that which existed at 12 weeks of age. In all cases the groups receiving 



Table Ill-b. Summary of weight records in pounds per bird by stated 

 weekly periods for fish meal groups 



