August, 1911.] 



1:37 



TAve Stock. 



4. The general character of each fowl 

 can be studied daily and without any 

 trouble. This is, of course, a most im- 

 portant consideration. 



5. You are in a position tc control her 

 food supply, and, by comparison with 

 others undergoing the test, you accumu- 

 late valuable data. 



6. By carefully studying the occu- 

 pants of the various pens you will with 

 greater certainty observe divergence 

 from type, tendency to a general type, 

 and other characteristics. This accu- 

 mulated knowledge, especially if tabu- 

 lated and recorded with pedigree charts 

 and photographs of the individuals 

 tested, becomes an invaluable record. 



Selection. 

 The importance of systematic selec- 

 tion is gaining general recognition as 

 the basis of the breeder's art. It is not, 

 in my opinion, properly carried out 

 unless on broad line?. The general 

 tendency is for like to produce like, but 

 only when selection has resulted in 

 stock pure for the desired characteristics. 

 The old and accepted theory was that in 

 all cases " like begot like." but the great 

 advance in knowledge of breeding, due 

 to the application of Mendel's law of 

 segregation, has made clear the exact 

 conditions under which alone we can 

 expect like to beget like. One of the 

 most important discoveries of modern 

 times is that of the purity or otherwise 

 of the gametes (male and female germ 

 cells) ; until this was recognised breeders 

 were groping in the dark, and most of 

 their results were more or less acciden- 

 tal. The value of selection, when pro- 

 ceeded with in the light of modern 

 knowledge, is immensely greater than 

 it was. We know that our first step in 

 developing any one characteristic is to 

 acquire by selection birds or animals in 

 which that characteristic is pure. When 

 once this is gained a course of rigid selec- 

 tion must give the maximum develop- 

 ment of that particular characteristic. 

 The limits of this article do not permit 

 of detailed explanation of the various 

 laws, nor even a brief account of the 

 countless classical experiments which 

 have been made in recent years. When 

 egg production is the end in view our 

 endeavours should tend to concentrate 

 the energies of the pullet or hen on that 

 function. This view of the case will at 

 once indicate the unreasonableness of 

 attempting to develop in one fowl the 

 opposing characteristics of high egg 

 production and maximum flesh deve- 

 lopment. Although a course of rigid 

 selectional breeding will result in tne 

 production of strains of great layers, 

 18 



it must not be thought that a lasting 

 structure can be erected and main- 

 tained upon any but a scientifically 

 sound foundation. Mere selection for 

 one characteristic is generally at the 

 expense of all other characteristics, and 

 the result of such a course would be a 

 fatal lack of balance. Selection has its 

 limits, but that limit is very far above 

 the general average. It is not true 

 that selection results in mediocrity : 

 the method that so results is not worthy 

 of the name of selection. Continued 

 high egg production must be recognised 

 as possible under two maiu conditions — 

 (1) Through inheritance due to scientific 

 selection with the view of fixing 

 and developing that characteristic. (2) 

 Through physical fitness of the hen or 

 pullet. The processes of metabolism 

 must be normal and capable of legiti- 

 mate development. The inherited capa- 

 city for transforming the energy of 

 surplus food into eggs instead of flesh 

 and waste must be coupled with the 

 physical capacity to do so. Egg develop- 

 ment and the subsequent extrusion are 

 both physical labour in a high degree, 

 further emphasized by the actual shock 

 of almost daily repetition. Therefore 

 it is evident vigour and a robust consti- 

 tution aie important characteristics, 

 the inheritance of which must be assured 

 by fixation due to selection. 



Other Points. 

 Although at first sight the modern 

 conceptions of the laws governing in- 

 heritance seem complex, there are a few 

 of such practical importance to the 

 breeder that he may concentrate on 

 these, almost disregarding all other 

 points. Without fully discussing the 

 latter generalisation, it may be remark- 

 ed that the careful breeder will always 

 notice when the accumulations of small 

 deviations in any one minor point 

 amount to a serious difference and will 

 take action in time. To the poultry- 

 breeder may be mentioned some of the 

 so-called minor points when compared 

 with the main one of egg production. 

 I will name some of these, because there 

 is a generally prevalent opinion that 

 nothing is of consequence other than 

 capacity for egg production— a fatal 

 error due to misconception. 



Type.— Generally speaking this is de- 

 . batable ground, largely caused through 

 misconception or perhaps ignorance. 

 Type has been subject to modifications 

 at various times. To state a case one 

 would not be wise in attempting selec- 

 tion for egg production using as material 

 the English exhibition White Leghorn, 

 which is practically a breed distinct 

 from the original Leghorn as introduced 



