FIVE YEARS OF FACT ORGANIZATION, WESTERN STATES 15 



So many e^*i producers in dilioreiit parts of the country have 

 already learned how to meet the (leuuind lor fresh eir^s in the fall 

 and winter months ami have prepared to do it that individuals and 

 communitie- thinkinir of expansion beyond the capacity of their 

 local markets .should consider,carefully the economic factors alfectinjr 

 the efficient marketing- and economical production of eirirs. 



With ejLT^ prices tendinij; downward and feed prices upward, and 

 with transportation and other fixed char<>;es demanding a larger 

 share of the poultryman's gross return, the chances for success in 

 e<fr:g production are not so good now as they have been during the 

 last few years. 



Changes in the seasonal distribution of i)roduction of eggs for 

 market have been so marked in recent years that the business of 

 storing eggs in the Hush season against the consumer demand in the 

 winter has been distinctly uni)rofitable for many operators. Until 

 production again settles down to some new normal distribution 

 storage may be financially hazardous to operators and producers. 



There seems to be little immediate danger of industrial disturb- 

 ances of sufficient imi)ortance to affect seriously the consumer de- 

 mand for. high-grade poultry products. 



The present consumer demand for eggs of ordinary quality is not 

 likely to increase greatly in the near future because of the large and 

 increasing number of other foodstuffs that compete with eggs for a 

 share of the consumer's appetite. 



The main favorable factor in the outlook for specialized egg pro- 

 ducers is the seemingly insatiable demand for fresh eggs of high 

 quality in the fall and winter montlis and to a less extent for eggs 

 of the highest quality at (jther periods. 



Although readjustments in egg pioduction to meet changes in mar- 

 ket denuinds are already taking place, it is difficult to forecast the 

 time needed to make the readjustment conq^lete. 



During the present period of small margins of ])rofit in egg pro- 

 duction, overhead charges in production, mortality of fowls, cai)ital 

 invested in land, buildings, and other e(|ui))ment. and overhead 

 niai'keting costs are certain to be determining factors in the success 

 of the jxjultry enteipiise on many poultry farms. 



'J'he develojiment of the egg industry in the W'eslein States to the 

 point where it is now dejjendent U])on successful marketing in dis- 

 tant consuming areas in direct competition with near-by eggs, em- 

 phasizes tlie need for constant effort on the jjart of western poultry- 

 men to jiroduce eggs of high (|uality for eastern shipments. 



During the j)i<'sent period of de|)ression in the r*i*s industry good 

 jKudtrymen are likely to make it iniusUMlly dillieult for pdoi- jKiuhry- 

 men to succeed. 



rilASKS TO HK EMI-IIAHIZKI) AM) EXTENSION PIKMiltAM KOIC S|-K< lAI.I/.KIl ( <)M MKItCIAL 



POULTRY PROOrCTION 



A specialized commercial flock is designatecl as one from which 

 the owner obtains at least 75 |)er c<>nt of liis income. 



General reepi'ivcuuntx. — Size of (lock: Siz«' of spccializ(>d connner- 

 cial poultry flock should be at least K-'iOO hens, or hens of such a 



