INCREASE OF FLESH ON YOUNG CHICKENS. 
9 
Table 9 summarizes the variation in the gain of individual birds 
on Rations A, B, and C. This summary brings out in striking 
fashion the relative value of Ration C, and also shows the need of 
a careful study of individual birds to determine those types which 
lend themselves to fleshing. For example, the type of bird which 
on Ration C gained over 60 per cent of its own weight would be vastly 
more profitable to feed than the type which is limited to 10 or 20 
per cent gains. It is encouraging to note, however, that 96.75 per 
cent of the birds on Ration C gained weight, and 95.97 per cent 
on Ration B, while only 79.03 per cent on Ration A showed gains. 
COMPOSITION OF BROILING CHICKENS BEFORE AND AFTER FLESHING. 
If the rapid increase of flesh on chickens is to be of maximum ben- 
efit it must include a gain to the consumer in both quality and 
quantity of foodstuff, as well as additional profit to the feeder and 
packer. It is very desirable, also, that some definite knowledge 
be obtained concerning the relation between diet and flesh compo- 
sition, that animal flesh, like fruits and vegetables, may have a 
composition adjusted to the market requirements to which it is to 
be subjected. The relation between the amount of edible and 
inedible material in the carcass is also a matter of economic moment. 
Table 10. — Gross composition of young chickens, before and after fleshing . 
Ration. 
Total edible portion and crude gizzard fat. 
Bones. 
Offal. 
Total edible portion. 
Giz- 
zard 
fat 
(crude). 
Total. 
Num- 
ber of 
Meat. 
Skin. 
Edible 
viscera. 
Total. 
birds 
dis- 
sected. 1 
Per cent of chilled weight. 
Before fleshing 
39.0 
38.6 
39.6 
40.3 
7.4 
8.4 
9.0 
8.2 
7.3 
6.8 
6.6 
6.6 
53.7 
53.8 
55.2 
55.1 
1.5 
3.8 
3.9 
3.2 
55.2 
57.6 
59.1 
58.3 
17.7 
17.2 
16.4 
16.4 
27.1 
25.3 
24.6 
25.3 
78 
After fleshing 
«= 
41 
41 
41 
1 The chickens were dissected in groups, each of which included from 3 to 6 birds. 
Table 10 compares the gross composition of ranger chickens, just 
as they come from the average farm, with similar chickens fed in 
the feeding station for 14 days on Rations A, B, and C, respectively. 
A study of the data recorded indicates that apparently a number of 
changes in gross composition are due to feeding. For example, the 
amount of meat has been increased from an average of 39.0 to 40.3 
per cent, while the total edible portion has been raised from 53.7 
to 55.1 per cent. The proportion of bone has been changed from 
17.7 to 16.4 per cent, and the offal from 27.1 to 24.6 per cent in 
Ration B and 25.3 per cent in Ration C. It is also of interest to ob- 
