May, 1932] Economic Study of Poultry Farms 57 



Detail Cost for Leghorns 



In addition, costs on three flocks of Leghorn pullets were obtained. 

 Of the 16,881 chicks started, 41% were saved as pullets, 2.5% were 

 saved as breeding cockerels, 42% were sold as broilers or culls, and 

 14.8% died or were unaccounted for. The average age at housing time 

 was 17.9 weeks as compared to 21.8 weeks for the heavy breeds. On 

 account of this difference in age at housing time, the data may not be 

 used in comparing breeds. However, a study of Table 29 indicates that 

 the gross costs per 100 pullets are lower and that credits from broilers 

 are considerably lower. 



Table 29 — Average cost of producing 100 Leghorn pullets on 8 farms 

 to an average age of 17.9 weeks 



Total Debits per 100 Birds Remaining 



Item 



Feed 



Litter 



Fuel 



Interest on investment in equipment 



Interest on investment in buildings 



Depreciation of equipment 



Depreciation of buildings 



Charge use of land — interest 



Share of taxes 



Share of insurance 



Interest on investment in stock 



Labor cost 



Miscellaneous costs 



Day-old chicks 



Total cost 



Credits per 100 Birds Remaining 



Broilers sold (82.0 birds) 



Pullets and breeding cockerels sold (12.0 birds) 

 Started chicks (.7 birds) 



Total receipts (94.7 birds) $43.92 



Net cost $125.82 



Further Studies Needed 



A general study such as this opens up many problems that can be 

 adequately solved only by further more detailed investigations. For in- 

 stance, in dealing with the problems of different dates of hatch of lay- 

 ing flock, technical studies are needed in management of flocks of early 

 hatched pullets to determine best practices in avoiding molt and in 

 maintaining steady production. Also, production records are needed on 

 a large number of pens of pullets in order to have more accurate data 

 for comparing different dates of hatch. 



