FEED COST OF EGG PRODUCTION. 19 
LEGHORNS COMPARED WITH GENERAL-PURPOSE BREEDS. 
Leghorns produce eggs cheaper than hens of the general-purpose 
breeds (Plymouth Rocks, Wyandottes, Rhode Island Reds, and 
Orpingtons), because they lay as many or more eggs, eat only about 
55 pounds of feed per head annually compared with from 70 to 85 
pounds eaten by general-purpose breeds, and their egg yield very 
materially exceeds that of the general-purpose breeds during their 
second and third laying years (see Table 2). The feed cost of a 
dozen eggs for Pen 4 (Leghorns) was 7.34 cents in 1913, while the 
average cost of all the general-purpose breeds was 10.6 cents. In 
1914 the feed cost of a dozen eggs for Pen 4 was 8.7 cents as against 
an average cost of 15.1 cents for the second laying year of the general- 
purpose pens. During their third laying year the cost of a dozen 
eggs was 8.8 cents for the Leghorns compared with 18.6 cents for the 
general-purpose fowls (Pens 5 and 6). The total profit per hen over 
feed cost in Pen 4 (Leghorns) for three years was $6.84 against $4.30 
for Pens 5 and 6 (general-purpose fowls). Pen 8 (Leghorns) in 
1914 laid 157.6 eggs per hen, the highest egg production secured in 
any of the feeding experiments up to 1915, producing eggs at a feed 
cost of 6.7 cents a dozen. Pen 12 composed of general-purpose 
fowls and crosses containing some Leghorn blood, laid 169.5 eggs per 
hen in 1915. The amount of grain eaten was large, however, mak- 
ing the feed cost of a dozen eggs 10.2 cents. The cost in Pen 2 dur- 
ing its first year was 7.74 cents, which was the lowest cost of any of 
the general-purpose pens. The average cost of eggs in Pens 7 and 
8 (Leghorns) in 1914 (their first year) was 7.7 cents. For the first 
two years the average annual feed cost for Leghorns was about 88 
cents and for the general-purpose breeds $1.13. 
The Leghorns produced smaller eggs than the general-purpose 
breeds. The average weight of the eggs in Pen 4 (Leghorns) during 
the first laying year weighed 1.42 pounds per dozen, as against 
1.53 to 1.58 pounds for the other pens. (See Table 5.) However, 
Leghorns laying eggs weighing 1.50 pounds per dozen or over have 
been selected and bred by many poultrymen. An examination of 
500 eggs from the Leghorn pens (Nos. 4, 7, and 8) made the first 
of May, 1915, showed that 31 per cent weighed over 2 ounces apiece, 
or 1.5 pounds to the dozen. The percentages and weights of these 
eggs were as follows: Eight per cent under If ounces, 26 per cent 
from 1| up to (not including) If ounce, 35 per cent from If to 2 
ounces, 23 per cent from 2 to 2 J ounces, and 8 per cent over 2 J ounces. 
The Leghorns in Pen 4 increased less than one-half pound in weight 
from the beginning of the experiment, January, 1913, until January, 
1915, while the general-purpose breeds (Pens 5 and 6) increased a 
little over a pound during the same period. (See Table 10.) The 
