INCREASE OP FLESH ON YOUNG CHICKENS. 



9 



Table 9 summarizes the variation in the gain of individual birds 

 on Rations A, B ; and C. This summary brings out in striking 

 fashion the relative value of Ration C ; and also shows the need of 

 a careful study of individual birds to determine those types which 

 lend themselves to fleshing. For example, the type of bird which 

 on Ration C gained over 60 per cent of its own weight would be vastly 

 more profitable to feed than the type which is limited to 10 or 20 

 per cent gains. It is encouraging to note, however, that 96.75 per 

 cent of the birds on Ration C gained weight, and 95.97 per cent 

 on Ration B, while only 79.03 per cent on Ration A showed gains. 



COMPOSITION OF BROILING CHICKENS BEFORE AND AFTER FLESHING. 



If the rapid increase of flesh on chickens is to be of maximum ben- 

 efit it must include a gain to the consumer in both quality and 

 quantity of foodstuff, as well as additional profit to the feeder and 

 packer. It is very desirable, also, that some definite knowledge 

 be obtained concerning the relation between diet and flesh compo- 

 sition, that animal flesh, like fruits and vegetables, may have a 

 composition adjusted to the market requirements to which it is to 

 be subjected. The relation between the amount of edible and 

 inedible material in the carcass is also a matter of economic moment. 



Table 10. — Gross composition of young chickens, before and after fleshing . 



Ration. 



Total edible portion and crude gizzard fat. 



Total edible portion. 



Skin. 



Edible 

 viscera. 



Total. 



Giz- 

 zard 

 fat 



(crude). 



Total. 



Bones. 



Offal. 



Num- 

 ber of 

 birds 

 dis- 

 sected. 1 



Per cent of chilled weight. 



Before fleshing . 

 After fleshing . . 



39.0 



7.4 



7.3 



53.7 



1.5 



55.2 



17.7 



38.6 



8.4 



6.8 



53.8 



3.8 



57.6 



17.2 



39.6 



9.0 



6.6 



55.2 



3.9 



59.1 



16.4 



40.3 



8.2 



6.6 



55.1 



3.2 



58.3 



16.4 



27.1 

 25.3 

 24.6 

 25.3 



!The chickens were dissected in groups, each of which included from 3 to 6 birds. 



Table 10 compares the gross composition of ranger chickens, just 

 as they come from the average farm, with similar chickens fed in 

 the feeding station for 14 days on Rations A, B, and C, respectively. 

 A study of the data recorded indicates that apparently a number of 

 changes in gross composition are due to feeding. For example, the 

 amount of meat has been increased from an average of 39.0 to 40.3 

 per cent, while the total edible portion has been raised from 53.7 

 to 55.1 per cent. The proportion of bone has been changed from 

 17.7 to 16.4 per cent, and the offal from 27.1 to 24.6 per cent in 

 Ration B and 25.3 per cent in Ration C. It is also of interest to ob- 



