POULTRY FEEDS AND FEEDING 



production is much lower than where only moderate pro- 

 duction is secured. This is also materially affected by 

 the breeding of the fowls. 



The following table gives a fair estimate of the amount 

 of feed required to produce a dozen eggs from both gen- 

 eral-purpose fowls and from Leghorns. This table was 

 worked out from tests made at the Government Poultry 

 Farm, Beltsville, Md., and from reports of egg-laying 

 contests in the states of Connecticut and New Jersey. 

 It represents a large number of fowls so that it gives 

 figures which are representative. The government tests 

 cover pens during a period of seven j^ears. The fowls 

 at the government farm were fed by a simple method of 

 feeding so that the egg production was only moderate and 

 is no higher than any poultryman can get on a commer- 

 cial plant which is well handled. Feed consumption from 

 both pullets and yearlings are given. From the amounts 

 of feed required to produce a dozen eggs it is easy to find 

 the feed cost of producing eggs in any section, by getting 

 the local price of feeds. The proportion of pullets to 

 older hens must be considered in any estimate of this 

 kind as the older fowls consume much more feed in pro- 

 ducing a dozen eggs than pullets, especially in the heavier 

 breeds. This is very apparent from this table while 

 the difference is even more marked with hens in their 

 third and fourth years. At the government farm the 

 Leghorns ate 6 pounds of feed in producing a dozen eggs 

 in their third year while the general-purpose breeds ate 

 13.4 pounds. The difference in feed per dozen eggs be- 



216 



