FEED COST OF EGG PRODUCTION. 19 



LEGHORNS COMPARED WITH GENERAL-PURPOSE BREEDS. 



Leghorns produce eggs cheaper than hens of the general-purpose 

 breeds (Plymouth Rocks, Wyandottes, Rhode Island Reds, and 

 Orpingtons), because they lay as many or more eggs, eat only about 

 55 pounds of feed per head annually compared with from 70 to 85 

 pounds eaten by general-purpose breeds, and their egg yield very 

 materially exceeds that of the general-purpose breeds during their 

 second and third laying years (see Table 2). The feed cost of a 

 dozen eggs for Pen 4 (Leghorns) was 7.34 cents in 1913, while the 

 average cost of all the general-purpose breeds was 10.6 cents. In 

 1914 the feed cost of a dozen eggs for Pen 4 was 8.7 cents as against 

 an average cost of 15.1 cents for the second laying year of the general- 

 purpose pens. During their third laying year the cost of a dozen 

 eggs was 8.8 cents for the Leghorns compared with 18.6 cents for the 

 general-purpose fowls (Pens 5 and 6). The total profit per hen over 

 feed cost in Pen 4 (Leghorns) for three years was $6.84 against $4.30 

 for Pens 5 and 6 (general-purpose fowls). Pen 8 (Leghorns) in 

 1914 laid 157.6 eggs per hen, the highest egg production secured in 

 any of the feeding experiments up to 1915, producing eggs at a feed 

 cost of 6.7 cents a dozen. Pen 12 composed of general-purpose 

 fowls and crosses containing some Leghorn blood, laid 169.5 eggs per 

 hen in 1915. The amount of grain eaten was large, however, mak- 

 ing the feed cost of a dozen eggs 10.2 cents. The cost in Pen 2 dur- 

 ing its first year was 7.74 cents, which was the lowest cost of any of 

 the general-purpose pens. The average cost of eggs in Pens 7 and 

 8 (Leghorns) in 1914 (their first year) was 7.7 cents. For the first 

 two years the average annual feed cost for Leghorns was about 88 

 cents and for the general-purpose breeds $1.13. 



The Leghorns produced smaller eggs than the general-purpose 

 breeds. The average weight of the eggs in Pen 4 (Leghorns) during 

 the first laying year weighed 1.42 pounds per dozen, as against 

 1.53 to 1.58 pounds for the other pens. (See Table 5.) However, 

 Leghorns laying eggs weighing 1.50 pounds per dozen or over have 

 been selected and bred by many poultrymen. An examination of 

 500 eggs from the Leghorn pens (Nos. 4, 7, and 8) made the first 

 of May, 1915, showed that 31 per cent weighed over 2 ounces apiece, 

 or 1.5 pounds to the dozen. The percentages and weights of these 

 eggs were as follows: Eight per cent under If ounces, 26 per cent 

 from If up to (not including) If ounce, 35 per cent from If to 2 

 ounces, 23 per cent from 2 to 2 J ounces, and 8 per cent over 2£ ounces. 



The Leghorns in Pen 4 increased less than one-half pound in weight 

 from the beginning of the experiment, January, 1913, until January, 

 1915, while the general-purpose breeds (Pens 5 and 6) increased a 

 little over a pound during the same period. (See Table 10.) The 



