28 POULTRY PRODUCTION 



to a less dcuree, ■wheat jjroductioii, wliicli tend to be replaced 

 by cro])s yieldin-;- more food units ]X'r acre, have lieeii. 

 Poultry anil e^RS have been from the first, for the most part 

 by-products of general a,nTi<'u]ture. It was not until loiiK 

 after most of the present-day industries which emanated 

 from the farm had become fairly well established that 

 poultry raising with its associated industries began to be 

 accounted an industry and recognized as of any commercial 

 importance. 



This was largely due to two associated causes. The first 

 was the high ])erishability of both poultry and eggs and the 

 second the poor means of transportation in early days. 



Commercially the poultry industry as a whole is dependent 

 upon present-day improved transportation facilities, and 

 the history of its development has very largely paralleled 

 the history of the development of the modern common car- 

 riers and advanced with the improvement of refrigerator 

 cars. It was not until about ISC!) when the refrigerator 

 was first l>rought into use for long distance hauling, that 

 means were afforded for transporting poultry products from 

 the farm to distant cities and jiroduction, Ijeyond that 

 demanded by home needs, became an ol)ject and poultry a 

 source of any considerable money income. 



Present Organization of the Poultry Industry. — The 

 poultry industry is at present made up of several more or 

 less clearly defined coordinate industries which have to do 

 with growing and marketing poultry and poultry products. 

 Taking their names from the respective industries in which 

 tliey are employed, the persons engaged in the poultry 

 industry as a whole may be designated as (!) production- 

 breeders; (2) fanciers and fancier-breeders; (o) producers; 

 (4) customs hatchers and baby chick dealers; (5) buyers, 

 (G) packt'rs and (7) distributers. 



While this classification holds true, it should be clearly 

 recognized that there is no hard-and-fast line between tlie 

 classes, and that the same person often engages in two or 

 more lines of work, 'lima the producer of the best type 

 carries on breeding operations within certain limits. The 

 breeder should be somewhat of a fancier, and the packer 

 is usually a buver and distributer as well. 



