56 POULTRY PRODUCTION 



Turkeys, ducks, ^eese, and guinea fowl each comprise a 

 class, the species bcin": the basis of division. 



Purpose of Breeds. — The purpose of fornaing a new breed 

 of poultry s1k)u1(1 be to secure a bird that will yield a product 

 of maximum value at minimum cost. It should be a means 

 to an end. 



Most of the breeds now popular for production purposes 

 were originally brought forward to meet a real need. Many 

 of the very numerous varieties that have appeared, often 

 bearing no relation to the original members of the breed, 

 have been brought forward for the purpose of "booming," 

 to the financial advantage of their promoters. It has been 

 too much a case of attractive color and markings rather than 

 that of a more efficient food factor^'. 



The breeds thus tend to become an end, rather than 

 a means, and the rc\ision of a breed standard is too often 

 based on the ett'ort to secure a more attractive type than a 

 more efficient one. 



Standard Breeds and Varieties. — Standard breeds and varie- 

 ties are those which haAX' lieen officially recognized by the 

 Ainerican Poultry Association. Quoting from the Consti- 

 tution of the American Poultry Association, "The proced- 

 lU'c for the recognition of new brecfls and varieties shall be 

 as follows: 



"A petition for recognition must be ])resented to the 

 American Poultry Association at an annual meeting at least 

 one year before the annual meeting at whic'h action upon the 

 application of the breed or variety is taken. 



"The petition shall give: 



"(a) The name of the breed or variety. 



"(h) A description of the breed or variety and all ascertain- 

 able facts regarding its origin and breeding; name and 

 address of the originator and facts of an educational or 

 historical nature, all of which must be preserved among the 

 records of this Association. 



"(c) Certificates of not less than five members of the 

 Association who are l)reeders of the breed or variety and who 

 have bred it for two years or more, certifying that it produces 

 not less than 50 per cent (jf specimens reasonably true to 

 type or variety. 



