8 



BULLETIN 657, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



actual increase in weight remaining to the packer after dressing and 

 on which he must calculate the cost of feeding. For the Rations A, 

 B, and C this is —5.98, +16.50, and +20. 27 per cent, respectively, 

 of the initial live weight. The size of the bird must also be con- 

 sidered when calculating the slaughter loss. The foregoing figures 

 are based on birds winch showed a dressed weight between 2 and 3 

 pounds. Birds weighing over 3 pounds, dressed weight, have an 

 increased slaughter loss of from 1 to 2 per cent. 



Table X. — Relation hctn-een gain In lire weight and total shrinkage (young chickens). 1 



Initial live weight (pounds) 



Weight gained by fleshing (pounds) 



Final live weight (pounds) 



Total shrinkage (per cent of final live weight) 



Weight lost in total shrinkage (pounds) 



Weight gained by fleshing, less total shrinkage (pounds) 



Ration 



Ration 



A. 



B. 



100.00 



100. 00 



5.00 



30.41 



105. 00 



130.41 



10.46 



10.67 



10.98 



13.91 



-5.98 



16.50 



100.00 

 35.01 

 135.01 



10.92 

 14 74 

 20.27 



1 These calculations are based on the average gain in live weight (Table 3) and the average total shrinkage 

 (Table 7) obtained with each ration. 



RELATION OF INITIAL WEIGHT TO FINAL GAIN. 



The birds used in these experiments averaged 1.7 pounds when 

 they entered the feeding cages. The birds after fleshing weighed 

 on an average 2.2 pounds for Ration B and 2.3 pounds for Ration C. 

 Included in these averages, however, are initial live weights varying 

 from 0.875 pound to 2.5 pounds, and final live weights varying 

 from 1.2 pounds to 3 pounds. The best results were obtained with 

 birds having an initial live weight of 2 pounds or less. Birds over 

 2 pounds made profitable gains, but showed an irregularity which was 

 less apparent in the younger stock. 



Table 9. — Resume of the change in weight by individual broilers during fleshing for 



14 days. 



Percentage of broilers with gain of — 



Less than 10 per cent of initial live weight. 



10 per cent or more of inil ial live weight . . . 



20 per cent or moreofinitiallive weight . . . 



30 percent or moreofinitiallive weight. . . 



40 per cent or more of initiallive weight . . 



50 per cent or moreofinitiallive weight. . . 



60 per cent or more of initiallive weight. . 



7o percent or moreofinitiallive weight. . . 

 Percentage of broilers with loss of — 



Less than 10 per cent of initial live weight. 



10 per cent or moreofinitiallive weight . . 



20 per cent or more of in it tallive weight. . . 



30 per cent or moreof init ia] Jive weight . . . 



40 per cent or more of initial live weight. . 



100 per cent of initial live weight (died; 



Ration 

 A. 



34.68 



44.36 



7.26 



.81 



15.32 

 5.65 

 4.04 

 3.23 

 3.23 

 2.42 



Total number of broilers 124 



Percentage gaining 79 03 



Percentage losing 2U. 97 



Ration 

 B. 



4.03 

 91.93 

 79. 03 

 58. 06 

 29. 03 

 9. 68 

 2.42 



2.42 

 1.61 



Ration 

 C. 



0.81 

 95. 94 

 S7.nii 

 65. 86 

 39. N4 

 22. 77 

 7.32 

 2.44 



1.63 



1.63 



124 

 95.97 

 4.03 



123 

 96. 75 

 3.25 



