10 



BULLETIN 657, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



serve that of the three rations C tends to lower the amount of fat depos- 

 ited in the body cavity, although it is higher than in the ranger birds. 



Table 11. — Chemical analysis of edible portion of young chickens, be/ore and ufter 



jl> siting. 





Ration. 



Total edible portion exclud- 

 ing crude gizzard fat 



Crude gizzard fat. 





"Water. 



Fat. 



Protein. 



Water. 



Fat. 







Per cent. 

 70.93 

 65.88 

 65.43 

 67.34 



Per cent. 

 8.51 



1 l. US 



15.73 

 13.57 



Per cent. 

 19.51 



is. 2!) 

 is. 17 

 18. 26 



Per cent. 

 25.48 

 15.33 

 16.43 

 19.26 



Per cent. 



OS. "13 



After fleshing 



fr== 



82.18 

 SI. 08 





78.27 



The rapidly formed flesh is relatively richer in fat than the flesh 

 produced under more normal conditions. The protein content is 

 slightly lowered as compared with the ranger. It is quite possible 

 that this change in protein content is due as much to the lack of 

 exercise as to the diet, an assumption borne out by the fact that 

 the protein content is practically the same on all three rations. 

 The water content of the quickly produced flesh is lower than that 

 built up under the normal environment. Apparently the fat which 

 has been forced into the tissue has partly replaced the water of the 

 ranger bird. If we assume that the flesh of the chicken which 

 exercises and lives on the mixed diet of a farm bird has a normal 

 composition, Ration C, fed in captivity, results in a less abnormal flesh 

 than either Ration A or Ration B. 



From the viewpoint of eating quality, both Ration B and Ration C 

 are highly desirable. The flesh of the birds fed Ration C is more 

 tender and the flavor is excellent. The removal of the feathers was 

 more difficult than in the case of the birds fed on Rations A and B. 

 This is invariably the case with soft meated as compared with ranger 

 birds and increases with the tenderness of the skin and flesh. 



ECONOMIC ADVANTAGE OF FLESHING BROILERS AT THE PACKING 



HOUSE. 



These results show that young chickens can be made to gain more 

 than one-third of their initial weight as ranging birds by confining 

 them in suitable quarters and feeding to them a suitable ration for a 

 period of two weeks. Considered on the basis of the individual small 

 broiler, or even on the basis of the young cockerels of the farm flock, 

 the resultant number of pounds of additional foodstuff is not great. 

 Considered, however, on the basis of the usual carload — which is the 

 commercial unit of dressed poultry — the figures assume a new sig- 

 nificance. Table 12 gives a resume of the gains in weight, the dressing 

 losses, and the increase in foodstuff to the consumer on the 20,000- 

 pound carload of dressed poultry. 



