PRAIRIE FARMER'S POULTRY BOOK 



Explanation of Chart 



A little study of the chart shows that there are three lines of 

 matings. The first in which the blood of the original male predominates; 

 another in which the blood of the original female predominates; and a 

 third in wtych the mating results in oflEspring jn which the blood of male 

 is equal to that of the original dam. 



An outstanding cockerel having been found, he is mated to a hen or 

 hens of equal quality. The cockerel is unrelated to the hens and is 

 known as "A"' and the hens as "B." The progeny comprise the group 

 "C" of which half are cockerels, "CI," and the remainder are pullets, 

 "C2." If the mating gives good results the line of breeding is continued. 



In the second year "A" is mated to his daughters "C2," and the off- 

 spring from this mating comprise the group "D," and each individual in 

 this group represents three fourths the blood of "A" and one fourth the 

 blood of "B." 



In the same year another pen contains a cockerel "CI" from the first 

 mating and he is mated to his dam "B." The result of this mating is 

 group "E" consisting of cockerels' "El" and pullets "E2," each individual 

 containing one-fourth the blood of "A" and three-fourths the blood of 

 "B." 



In the third year similar matings are made, a 'cock being used with 

 pullets and a cockerel with hens. In this year also the male and female 

 lines are brought together by mating a cockerel from the male line "Dl" 

 with a pullet from the female line "E2." The result of this mating is 

 one-half the blood of "A" and one-half the blood of "B," exactly the 

 same proportion that we had from the original mating. Again in the 

 fifth year the two lines can be brought together with the same result. 

 When a cockerel is mated with a pullet, both are supposed to be of 

 pronounced vigor and prepotency, early hatched, and widely separated 

 in blood lines. It will be noted that in all the other matings shown in 

 the chart, brother and sister are not mated together and a cock is 

 always mated with a pullet and a cockerel with a hen. ■• p 



By following this system there is not at any time any very close 

 relationships in the matings. Vigor can be maintained and by selecting 

 only the best each year good qualities can be preserved and intensified. 



Many other combinations besides those named can be used. If the 

 original male has unusual vitality and is a prepotent breeder he can be 

 used for three successive years and this will intensify his blood in the 

 male line. So also can the females be used for three years intensifying 

 the blood of the original dam in the female line. Probably for all 

 practical purposes the farmer will not wish to use his males and females 

 longer than for two seasons. 



[105] 



