16G POULTRY PRODUCTION 



second year gives the greater production, as witli hens Nos. 

 54, 125, 239, and 253. 



In the grand totals, however, tlie second year's production 

 shows a decrease as compared witli that of tlie first year 

 of 13 per cent. And the third year sliows a shrinkage of 

 32.2 per cent, as compared with tlie production of the first 

 year, or a decrease of 56.2 eggs per hen. 



( 'ard' found in a study of 10(j White Leghorns at the Storrs 

 Station that the correlation between the first and second year 

 production was quite marked (.GSS*.035). This probably 

 represents the average condition more nearly than the 

 results of 15a,ll, Alder and Egbert- at the Utah Station which 

 lead them to make the statement that for the family of 

 birds with which they were working "individuals making 

 an exceedingly high record one year ^'ery rarely hold their 

 place the second or third year." 



Early Maturity. — Quick growth means a less cost of pro- 

 duction of both meat and eggs. The cost per pound of the 

 slow-growing sorts is very much greater than with those 

 that mature early. Quickly made gains arc usually eco- 

 nomical gains. With the rapid maturing bird, egg produc- 

 tion conies earlier and is likely to be more persistent. As 

 already stated in another connection, Rice^found from a study 

 of the tra])-nest egg records, covering several years' work 

 at ('ornell University, that it was the general rule that the 

 early layers were the heavy layers in jjoint of annual pro- 

 ducti(jn. Evidence obtained at the Maine Station indicates 

 that in all ])robal)ility a close correlation exists between the 

 rate of growth of a jjullet during the first six weeks after 

 hatching and lier sul)sec|uent performance as a layer. 



At the same time the point may well be raised, whether 

 early maturity and longevity are not characters that are in 

 more or less mutual opposition. The completion of records 

 at the various experiment stations throwing light upon the 

 cpiestion whether the precocious bird, so far as maturity is 

 concerned, does not tend to be a short-lived bird will be 



' .J'jLir. Am. As^n. Iii^t, and Iinr^t in I'oul Husli., No. .'), vol iii. 



2 Utah Bulletui, No. 14s. 



^ Cornell Countryman, March, 1913 



