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The Development of Egg Laying Contests in the United States and Canada
THe J o u r n a l of t n e
American Association of Instructors and Investigators In Poultry H u s b a n d r y Vol. VI
N e w Brunswick, N. J., April, 1920
No.
7
CONTENTS. The Development of Egg Laying Contests in the United States and Canada Cornell Ration For Laying Hens
49 56
ricultural College, W. F. Kirkpatrick. National Egg-Laying Contest, Mountain Grove, Mo. State Poultry Experiment Station, T. W. Noland. Arkansas State Egg-Laying Contest, Fayetteville, Ark. University of Arkansas, H. E. Dvorachek. Vineland International Egg-Laying and Breeding Contest, Vineland, N. J. New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, H. R. Lewis. All Northwest Egg-Laying Contest, Pullman, Wash. Washington State College, H. V. Mitchell. Kentucky National Laying Contest, Lexington, Ky. Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station, J. Holmes Martin. Texas National Laying Contest, College Station, Texas. Texas Agricultural and Mechanical College, F. W. Kazmeier. Nebraska National Egg-Laying Contest, Lincoln, Nebraska. Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station, Frank E. Mussehl. Western Washington Egg-Laying Contest, Puyallup, Wash. Geo. R. Shoup. California Farm Bureau Egg-Laying Contest, Santa Cruz, Calif. M. A. Kortum. In preparing this historical sketch of egg-laying contests, the writer prepared and sent to all such competitions a rather exhaustive questionnaire. It will be the purpose to present in this paper the information gathered in this way. Two contests were established in the United States on November 1st, 1911. So far as our records show, they seem to be the first of such enterprises established. One of these was the Annual International Egg Laying Contest at Storrs, Conn. This contest is held under the supervision of the Connecticut Agricultural College, and the supervising official being Prof. W. F. Kirkpatrick. No state appropriation is received for the support of this contest. The funds to operate same coming entirely from en-
The past ten years has witnessed wonderful development and interest in poultry husbandry. This has been due to a considerable extent, to the development of egg laying contests in America. These contests have demonstrated the wonderful ability of hens to lay eggs. They have likewise demonstrated, that hens differ in their egg laying ability. These contests have done much to focus public interest upon poultry raising and its possibilities. These contests have also been instrumental in solving many perplexing problems of management, with the result that poultry raising is now carried on far more efficiently than" formerly, or than it probably would have been had not egg laying contests become so firmly established. Early egg laying contests were started by private interest, largely for advertising advantage. Note:—See New Jersey bulletin 338, page 6. In recent years the development of egg-laying contests has been stimulated largely by a public desire for the development of fundamental facts regarding the improvement of methods of production. It seems fitting that the Journal of the American Association of Instructors and Investigators in Poultry Husbandry, should at this time, report rather fully upon the development of these contests to date, in order that all of this information may be available in concentrated form, and in order that we may have some record of historical value in bringing this work up to date. The following is a list of laying competitions under State College, Experiment Station or Federal supervision, and are now operating in the United States. Annual International Egg-Laying Contest, Storrs, Conn. Connecticut AgApplieation made for entry as second class matter at New Brunswick, N. J., P. O. 49
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THE DEVELOPMENT OF EGG LAYING CONTESTS IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA.
Page
try fees and the income from eggs. The entry fee consists of $20.00 per pen of 10 hens. There are 100 pens in the Contest. The contest operates for a single year of 52 weeks. Four acres of land are devoted to contest purposes. The birds are housed in double pen, gable roof, open front houses. For complete description see Storrs bulletin 82. The following table shows some of the more interesting and striking results accomplished at Storrs during the progress of the Contest there.
National Egg Laying Contest during the years of its development are given. During the second and third contest there were ten birds to each entry. During the eighth contest, hen number 7 in pen 10 of Rhode Island Whites, make a record of 302 eggs.
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During the first two contests, five birds only were required for each entry. The following statement is interesting in that it gives mass results over a period of years. During the first eight years at the Connecticut Contest, there was a total of 6,800 birds entered. They laid 1,051,563 eggs, or an average annual yield of 154.8 eggs per hen, or 42.5 per cent. The National Egg Laying Contest at Mountain Grove, Mo., was established at the same time as the Connecticut Contest, just referred to. This contest is held under the supervision of the Missouri State Poultry Experiment Station. It is under the supervision of Mr. T. W. Noland, Director of said Station. The contest is for one year's duration, beginning November 1st of each year, and runs for 52 weeks. This contest is supported by entry fees and State appropriation. The entry fee is $10.00 per pen for residents of Missouri, and $20.00 per pen for non-residents of Missouri. Five competing pullets and one substitute are allowed in each entry. Five acres of ground are devoted to contest purposes. The Contest houses are 8 x 10 feet, shed roof structures, 8 feet high in front and 6 feet high in the rear, with a partition in the center of each house, allowing two pens of birds to each house. The double yarding system is used for each flock, consisting of a yard 30 feet wide and 80 feet long in the front of each house, and one the same size in the rear. The following interesting results accomplished at the
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The next contest which have been established in the United States, was the Arksansas State Egg Laying Contest at Fayetteville, Ark. This contest is under the supervision of the State University of Arkansas, the supervising official being Prof. H. E. Dvorachek. This contest was started in January 1915. The contest is supported by State appropriation, entry fees, and the sales of the products. $3000.00 is appropriated annually by the State of Arkansas for the development of this work. An entry fee of $5.00 is charged for each entry of 5 competing birds and -one substitute. Twenty entries constitute the contest. Each contest is of one year duration. Five acres are devoted to contest purposes. The contest houses are of the open front style, shed roof construction, 8 x 10 feet, with yards 40 x 130 feet. The following records of performance have been made at the Arkansas State Egg Laying Contest during the period of its operation. o Z
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The Vineland International Egg Jjaying and Breeding Contest, located at Vineland, N. J., was next established. This Contest is supervised by the New Jersey State Agricultural Experiment Station, the supervising official being Prof. H. R. Lewis. The Vineland Contest was started November 1st, 1916. It is supported by State appropriation, by 50
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Future Contest Work In New Jersey The development of the Egg Laying and Breeding Contest has proven so popular that the organized poultry interests of the State have secured the necessary legislative enactment to develop this project until three similar stations shall be operated in the State, the Vineland Contest in South Jersey, the Northern Contest in Bergen County and a Central Contest in Middlesex County. The act authorizing this development follows: An Act empowering the department of poultry husbandry at the State Agricultural Experiment Station to conduct three egg-laying and breed-testing stations, and providing for the locations thereof, and providing for an
appropriation therefor. Be it enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey: 1. The State Agricultural Experiment Station is hereby authorized to conduct three egg-laying and breed-testing stations in New Jersey as a part of the regular research work of said experiment station and to employ such assistants as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this act. Said egglaying and breed-testing stations shall be located as follows: One in southern New Jersey in the vicinity of Vineland, Cumberland county; one in northern New Jersey in the vicinity of Westwood, Bergen county, and one in the central part of the State of New Jersey, the exact location to be designated by the said department of poultry husbandry of the State Agricultural Experiment Station. 2. The sum of fifteen thousand dollars, or five thousand dollars for each testing station under operation, is hereby appropriated annually to the State Agricultural Experiment Station for the maintenance and promotion of such breed-testing stations, providing that no part of the sums appropriated shall become available until the amount thereof has been included in either a supplemental or regular appropriation bill. 3. All acts and parts of acts inconsistent herewith be and the same are hereby repealed. 4. This act shall take effect immediately. Approved March 22, 1920. These contests in New Jersey are largely a cooperative affair and are established and operated on the following financial basis: 1. Each contest plant is built with funds raised by private subscriptions from poultrymen, farmers and business men in the section of the state where it is located. 2. The State of New Jersey appropriates funds to enable the Department of Poultry Husbandry of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station to supervise the contest and to secure and analyse the great mass of valuable and original research factors which are made available by such a contest. 3. An entry fee of $50.00, covering a full three-year period, is charged for each pen, which amount pays for prizes and publicity and enables the contest to keep in close touch with the contestants. 4. The revenue from the sale of market eggs and stock sold to contestants during the yearling year goes toward the maintenance of the contest, paying for feed, labor and miscellaneous expenditures. From now on these contests in New 51
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income from the sale of products and by entry fees. $5000.00 is appropriated annually by the State of New Jersey to the Agricultural Experiment Station for the development of this work. An entry fee of $50.00 per pen of 10 birds is charged to cover a three-year period. The Vineland Contest is of three years duration, and is an egg-laying, as well as a breeding contest. The original pullets entered are trap-nested the first year and are held over during their second or yearling year, and still trapnested. During the spring of this year they are mated to male birds provided by the contestants and sufficient eggs are hatched to secure 10 vigorous, healthy pullets, which are put in their place the third year, the original birds being returned to the owner the last day of October. The New Jersey Contest is hence, a progeny testing and breeding contest, rather than a simple one-year egg-laying contest. November 1st, 1919, a new contest of three years duration was started, one entry consisting of 20 birds. These to be culled to 12 for the breeding work the second year, and to be replaced by 20 of their daughters the third year. 13 acres of land are devoted for contest purposes, six being used for contest pens and seven for brooding and rearing ranges. Single pen 8 x 10, shed roof, colony houses are used at Vineland. Complete working plans and photographs are shown in the New Jersey bulletin 338. The following table shows the results secured during the first three years of the Vineland Contest.
Washington Experiment Station at Puyallup, Wash., November 1st, 1919. The supervising official is Prof. George R. Shoup. This contest is supported by State funds, by entry fees, by the sale of products and by private support guaranteed by poultrymen to be used if needed. The entry fee is $1.00 per bird. The contest consists of 47 entries of five competing pullets and one alternate. The duration of the contest is for one year. One-half acre of land is devoted to contest purposes. The contest birds are housed in one long laying house at the Western Washington Experiment Station. Since this contest is in the first year of operation, no records of performance are available. Since preparing this data the writer understands that another egg-laying contest has been established by the California Farm Bureau at Santa Cruz, Cal. It is known as the California Farm Bureau Egg Laying Contest. The supervising official is Mr. M. A. Kortum, Director, Santa Cruz, Calif. NOTE:—The Editor of the Journal of the American Association of Instructors and Investigators in Poultry Husbandry, will be glad to receive additional information or facts relative to the development of Egg Laying contests in the United States, and would be pleased to receive regular publications giving the results of these contests, in order that subsequent reports may be made public, regarding the development of these lines of activity. The Development of Egg Laying Competitions in Canada The following is a list of the Canadian Egg Laying Competitions being conducted under Provincial Agricultural College, Experiment Station or Federal supervision. International Laying Contest, Victoria, B. C. Province Dept. Agr., J. R. Terry. Canadian Egg Laying Contest, Ottawa, Ont. Dominion Exp. Farm, T. C. Elford. Prince Edward Island Egg Laying Contest, Charlottetown, P. E. I. Dominion Exp. Farm, J. A. Clark. Alberta Egg Laying Contest, Leghbridge, Alta. Dominion Exper. Farm, W. H. Fairfield. Nova Scotia Egg Laying Contest, Nappan, N. S. Dominion Exp. Farm, W. W. Baird. Manatoba Egg Laying Contest, Brandan, Manatoba. Dominion Exp. Farm, W. C. McKillican. Saskatchewan Egg Laying Contest, Indian Head, Sask. Dominion Exp. Farm, A. B. McKenzie. (continued on page 53, second column.) 52
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Jersey will be known as Egg Laying and Breed Testing Stations, and much good to the development of the poultry industry in the State is expected. North West Egg Laying Contest On November 1st, 1916, the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station inaugurated its first egg-laying contest, which was located at Lexington, Ky., the supervising official was J. J. Hooper. This contest was a one-year egg-laying conest. An entry consisted of Ave pullets and one reserve bird. An entry fee of $15.00 was charged to residents of Kentucky, and $25.00 for poultrymen residing outside of the State. The contest was supported by entry fee, and sale of products. This contest was run for only one year and then discontinued during the war, due to lack of funds. Prof. Martin writes that they are in the hopes of reviving same before very long, although no definite decision has been reached as yet. The Texas National Egg Laying Contest was started November 1st, 1917. It was started as a joint cooperative project of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station and the Extension Service of the Texas Agricultural College. The houses, yards and labor are provided by the Experiment Station. The supervising officials of the contest are Prof. F. W. Kasmeier and T. J. Conway. It is located at College Station, Texas. The contest is supported exclusively by the entry fee and by the sale of products produced. An entry fee of $10.00 for each pen of five birds is charged. 24 entries constitute the present contest. The contest is conducted for a period of one year, approximately one acre of land is devoted to contest purposes. The report of the first Texas National Egg Laying Contest has appeared in print form as bulletin 246 of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station. The Nebraska National Egg Laying Contest was established at Lincoln, Nebr., by the Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station, November 1st, 1919. The supervising official is Prof. Frank E. Mussehl. The contest is supported largely by entry fees, and the sale of products. Limited departmental funds are available if needed. Facilities are provided for 100 entries consisting of ten birds each. $18.00 per year is the entry fee charged. The contest is of a single year's duration. Five acres of land are devoted to purposes of the contest. The plan and outline of the contest is described in circular No. 7, of the Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station. Since the contest is now running in its first year, no data is yet available for publication. The Western Washington Egg Laying Contest was established at the Western
(continued from page 52.)
Editorial
53
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Quebec Egg Laying Contest, Cap Rouge, Quebec. Dominion Exp. Farm, An organization of Individuals and In- Bus. Langelier. stitutions primarily engaged In InstrucNova Scotia Annual Egg Laying Contion, Investigation and extension In test, Truro, N. S. J. P. Landry. poultry husbandry. Canada vies with the United States Publication Committee in the honor of having established the W. R. GRAHAM, first egg laying contest in America. The W. F. KIRKPATRICK, International Egg Laying Contest was JAMES E. RICE. established at Victoria, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, in the fall of Editor. 1911. Entries were received at this HARRT R. LEWIS, contest from Australia and New ZeaNew Brunswick, N .J. land during its first year of operation. This Journal is published monthly for This contest is under the supervision of ten months each Dear. the Department of Agriculture, and is While published primarily for the use held at the Victoria Exhibition Grounds, of the members, additional copies may by arrangement with the British Columbe secured for individual or library flies bia Agricultural Association. The supervising official of this contest is Mr. at the following rates: J. R. Terry of the Department of AgriSubscription Price, $1.00 per year. culture, Victoria. This contest is supPrice of a single copy, 15 cents. ported by the Dominion Government Grant, by entry fees and by the sale of the products produced. There are 40 OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR entries in the contest. An entry fee of ORGANIZATION. $5.00 is charged for each entry of six It is getting nearer and nearer to the pullets. This contest is of varying time for our annual meeting. With this periods of duration from 11 to 12 No effort has been made to meeting comes definite responsibility to • months. trapnest the birds at this contest, until every member of our association. These the current year. The following repreresponsibilities are two-fold. sents the average production secured First—Make every effort to be present per bird, from the various contests held in person and contribute to the success at Victoria. of the meeting in every way possible. Production M o n t h s 12 The largest attendance at any annual 109 145.7 10 meeting is our hope for the coming year. 164.2 11 Second—We all owe our organization 165.4 12 every effort to insure a successful pro151.6 11 gram to this purpose. Let every mem159.8 12 154.7 11 ber get into communication with Presi158.2 11 dent Kirkpatrick and submit subjects The next contest established in Canfor paper or addresses which can be givada was the Prince Edward Island Con. en at the annual meeting. test, established at the Dominion ExA LARGE ENTHUSIASTIC ATTEND- perimental Station, Charlottetown, P. E. ANCE. I. It was started November 1st, 1918. J. A. Clark is the present superintendTHE BEST PROGRAM EVER. ent. This contest is supported by Dominion Government Grant, by private A VALUABLE PUBLICATION. subscription, by entry fees and by the sale of products. The entry fee in 1918The Department of Farms and Mar- 19 was $1.00 per pen, during the curkets of the State of New York have re- rent year it is $5.00. In 1918-19, 20 cently issued a number of their Journal entries of 8 birds each made up the condevoted to Foods and Markets. It is test. During the current year 22 enof 10 birds each, constitute the Volume No. 2, January, 1920. This tries contest. In 1918-19 the contest was of publication discusses from many angles 11 months duration. During the curthe problems of marketing eggs, and is rent year it will be for one year of 52 a very valuable contribution to our cur- weeks. One acre of land is devoted to rent poultry literature. It can be se- the purposes of the Contest. The concured by addressing Dr. E. H. Porter, test houses are of frame construction, 10 x 12 feet with shed roof. They are Albany, New York.
Certificates will be issued for all birds qualifying in the Record of Performance. The birds that qualify shall also be identified by a sealed band and the numbered registered. The Record of Performance for poultry is to be devided into two parts,— "A" and "AA". Record of Performance "A". This is to consist of the inspection of trap-nested flocks on individual poultry plants and shall be similar in form to the Record of Performance for dairy cattle. It will be open to any breeder that wishes to enter his flock and will be under the supervision and inspection of officers of the Poultry Division of the Live Stock Branch. Record of Performance "AA". This will consist of the conducting of tests under Government supervision and on Government or neutral ground, for the purpose of obtaining an official record by actual trap-nest results. This official test may be conducted by either Federal or Provincial Government of Colleges and may be secured by: 1. "Laying Tests." 2. "Laying Contests." Record of Performance "A" will be under the supervision and direction of officers of the Poultry Division of the Experimental Farms Branch. Official Requirement of Entrants In Record of Performance "A". All entries shall be made upon forms supplied by the Department and subject to Departmental rule and regulations. Applications for entry must be dated and mailed one month in advance of the date it is desired the record shall commence. For purposes of organizations during the present year 1919, applications will be received for individual birds to commence their records on the 1st of September, the 1st of October, the 1st of November and 1st of December. There shall be an entry fee of one dollar ($1) for the first ten birds entered and five cents (5c) for each additional bird. Only pure bred stock of standard varieties and free from standard disqualifications may be entered. The minimum entry shall not be less than ten birds from any one flock. All stock entered shall be trap-nested during the period of the official test, which in no case will exceed fifty-two weeks. All equipment on inspected plants shall be kept in a clean and sanitary condition. Records shall be kept posted up to 54
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open front construction with muslin curtains. Each house is divided into two pens. Each house has a yard 20 feet by 50 feet. During 1918-19, no yard room was allowed. The average number of eggs laid per bird during the first year of the contest was 130 or 38.65 per cent production. Four birds, or 2.5 per cent laid 200 eggs or over, during the first year. Federal Action to Establish Egg Laying Contests in Canada Canada has recently attempted to unify the development of its record of performance work with poultry. It will be of interest to everyone to know how this standardization is being worked out. The following is an official report of plan for establishing the record of performance work. An Official "Record of Performance" F o r Poultry A review of the present and prospective egg and poultry situation points strongly to the fact that the economical production is going to be an increasingly important factor in meeting the competition of the world on the export market. While the cost of unit production in the poultry business is affected by many conditions, it has been clearly evident for some time that no factor has a more potent bearing on cost than the productiveness of the individual bird. It requires a certain number of eggs to pay for the feed fed and labor expended. The number required varies according to the cost. Profitable production can only be obtained by having a safe margin of eggs over the equivalent of cost, the more eggs per bird the greater the remuneration. Increased production both in the individual and in the flock has been shown to be largely a matter of breeding. The Record of Performance for poultry is a policy planned to give point, direction and encouragement to the breeding of poultry along lines of greatly increased individual and flock production. The minimum record to permit a bird to qualify in the record of Performance has been set at one hundred and fifty eggs in fifty-two consecutive weeks and for qualification in the Advanced RecorS of Performance a minimum of two hundred and twenty-five eggs in fifty-two consecutive weeks. The weight and quality of the eggs during the month of April shall not be lower than that of the grade "Specials" in the Canadian Standards.
tests on the Experimental Farms must be made before September first, but as the number which can be accommodated is limited, it is advisable to make application early. Entry blanks, Rules and Regulations, may be secured from the Poultry Division, Experimental Farm, Ottawa. All birds in tests or contests that qualify for Record of Performance or Advanced Record of Performance will receive the certificate of registration. The following are the Egg Laying Contests, now operating under the "AA" group. The Canadian Egg l a y i n g Contest, located at the Dominion Experiment Farms at Ottawa, Canada. This contest is under the supervision of the Dominion Poultry Husbandman, and is supported by a Federal grant of about $10,000.00, and an entry fee of $15.00 per pen, which is all returned In prize money. This contest consists of 50 entries of 10 birds each. One-half acre of land is provided for the purposes of this contest, with no yards. The duration of this contest is 52 weeks. Provincial Contests were established last fall at the following points: Alberta Egg Laying Contest, Leghbridge, Alta. Nova Scotia Egg Laying Contest, Nappon, N. S. Manatoba Egg Laying Contest, Brandan, Manatoba. Saskatchewan Egg Laying Contest, Indian Head, Sask. Quebec Egg Laying Contest, Cap Rouge, Quebec. All of these provincial contests are under the supervision of the Dominion Poultry Husbandman. They are each suported by a Government Grant of about $4000.00. An entry fee of $5.00 for each pen of 10 birds is charged. Each contest has capacity for 20 entries. One-half acre is provided for the purposes of each contest. No yards whatsoever are provided. Each contest is of one year duration. The birds are housed in double pen colony houses, 10 x 14 feet. NOTE:—This standardization of contest activities in Canada should do much to bring about rapid development and excellent results from this activity. There is in the province of Nova Scotia, another egg laying contest started November 1st, 1919 by the Poultry Department of the Agricultural College, lo-^ cated at Truro. The supervising official is Mr. J. P. Landry. The Contest is supported by the sale of eggs and poultry, by entry fees and by appropriations 55
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date at all times for the information of visiting inspectors. Only eggs actually found in trapnests shall be counted. Entrants shall use prescribed record forms. These shall consist of weekly house records and monthly or yearly book records. The weekly records shall be mailed regularly by the breeder to the Department. The fullest information shall be given to official inspectors and any entrant who offers opposition renders his entry liable to cancellation. Methods of Inspection All flocks will be placed under systematic, periodic, unannounced inspection. Official visits will be at irregular intervals; they may average once a month or more frequently as occasion demanded. The general health, condition of the stock, current productiveness and the ordinary physical and visual tests of egg laying will be used by inspectors in checking the accuracy of the records. Inspectors required for the Record of Performance will be chosen by special Civil Service Examination. In case of an inspector's decision being questioned by the owner of the flock, another examination by the inspector may be given or, at the option of the Department, another inspector may be sent. In either case a second inspection by the same or another inspector will be considered final. For further particulars in reference to Record of Performance "A" inquire of the Poultry Division of the Dominion Live Stock Branch, Ottawa. Record of Performance "AA" General Information Laying Tests and Laying contest both will be used as mediums to obtain the qualifications for entrance to the Record of Performance. The major portion of tests and contests will be conducted by the Experimental Farm upon its Central and Branch Farms but Provincial Departments of Agriculture and Colleges also may conduct these. Laying tests are distinguished from contests in that they are not competitive, but merely for the purposes of obtaining an official record of production. As low as three birds and up to five may be entered in a test. At present complete arrangements are made by the Dominion Experimental Farm to hold these tests at all of its Farms throughout the Dominion. Applications for both tests and con-
Amount: Feed according to the appetite of the birds; no definite rule can be given. Feed scantily of grain in the morning and give all the grain they will eat in the afternoon in time to find it before dark. There should be no grain in the litter at noon; when found, it indicates feeding too much in the morning. In general, feed by weight 2-3 parts of grain to 2 parts of mash. When the birds are laying heavily they should consume a larger amount of mash. Litter: Induce exercise by feeding all grain in dry, clean straw litter, 6 to 8 inches deep. The common straws, in their order of desirability, are wheat, oats, barley, rye and buckwheat; shredded or cut corn stalks; shavings or
QO NOT FAIL to attend the annual meeting of our association at Purdue University, Lafayette, Ind. the 3d week in August. PROCRAMS W I L L SOON BE AVAILABLE
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from the Department of Agriculture of leaves may be used where straw is not the Province of Nova Scotia. The entry available. All feed and litter should be fee is $5.00 per pen of five birds each"} strictly clean and free from mustiness, The entries are limited to 30 birds. The mold or decay. Serious losses frequentContest is to be run for a period of 48 ly occur from these sources due to the weeks. An area of land 394 feet by 110 spores which may deevlop into fungus feet, is devoted to the purposes of the molds in the lungs or intestines. Contest. The contest houses are 12 bj Green Feed: A green range of alfal12 feet square, each, provided with a fa, clover or grass furnishes the ideal yard 12 x 50 feet. This being the first condition. When these are not availvear of the Contest, no records of per- able it is necessary to give the birffs formance are available. some kind of succulent food. Mangel How About the Registry Council? ; beets, cabbage, sprouted oats or green are usually considered the best At our last annual meeting a resplur clover feeds. If thees are not obtaintion was passed authorizing the estab- 'green able, apples and potatoes make a valulishment of a Registry Council. able addition to the ration. Feed at nobn in such amounts as the birds will New York State College of Agrieul- .', cle.an up before night. This will require ture at Cornell University, Ithaca, N. about 35 to 40 pounds per week for 100 Y., Dept. of Poultry Husbandry. Stencil hens. Decayed or frozen feeds should No. 1418. , not be used as they are a common source of digestive disorders. CORNELL RATION FOR LAYING Grit and Oyster Shell: Hard, sharp HENS. grit is necessary for grinding feed; oyster shell to supply lime for egg shells. Scratch Grain Neither.,-will replace the other. (Formula 200) • Water: I dozen eggs contains about 500 pounds cracked corn 1 pint of water. Clean, fresh, pure 200 pounds barley water should be kept constantly before 200 pounds wheat .the" hensiand should be renewed a t least 100 pounds heavy oats once daily. Fed by hand morning and afternoon Moist Mash: Recommended only to in deep straw litter. ' hasten the development of late hatched Mash Mixture pullets or to help in keeping up egg (Formula 201) production of hens in late summer, espe100 pounds wheat bran cially those hens which are not to be 100 pounds wheat middlings used for breeders the following spring. 100 pounds corn meal Breeds: This ration is recommended 100 pounds ground oats or ground for all' .breeds but it is to be varied as barley to the method of feeding. In the case 100 pounds meat scrap 'of^.heavier varieties, feed more scantily 3 pounds salt of", grain in the morning and so enFed dry in hoppers. tourage exercise. FEEDING METHODS AND PRACTICE.
American Association of Instructors and Investigators In Poultry H u s b a n d r y Vol. VI
N e w Brunswick, N. J., April, 1920
No.
7
CONTENTS. The Development of Egg Laying Contests in the United States and Canada Cornell Ration For Laying Hens
49 56
ricultural College, W. F. Kirkpatrick. National Egg-Laying Contest, Mountain Grove, Mo. State Poultry Experiment Station, T. W. Noland. Arkansas State Egg-Laying Contest, Fayetteville, Ark. University of Arkansas, H. E. Dvorachek. Vineland International Egg-Laying and Breeding Contest, Vineland, N. J. New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, H. R. Lewis. All Northwest Egg-Laying Contest, Pullman, Wash. Washington State College, H. V. Mitchell. Kentucky National Laying Contest, Lexington, Ky. Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station, J. Holmes Martin. Texas National Laying Contest, College Station, Texas. Texas Agricultural and Mechanical College, F. W. Kazmeier. Nebraska National Egg-Laying Contest, Lincoln, Nebraska. Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station, Frank E. Mussehl. Western Washington Egg-Laying Contest, Puyallup, Wash. Geo. R. Shoup. California Farm Bureau Egg-Laying Contest, Santa Cruz, Calif. M. A. Kortum. In preparing this historical sketch of egg-laying contests, the writer prepared and sent to all such competitions a rather exhaustive questionnaire. It will be the purpose to present in this paper the information gathered in this way. Two contests were established in the United States on November 1st, 1911. So far as our records show, they seem to be the first of such enterprises established. One of these was the Annual International Egg Laying Contest at Storrs, Conn. This contest is held under the supervision of the Connecticut Agricultural College, and the supervising official being Prof. W. F. Kirkpatrick. No state appropriation is received for the support of this contest. The funds to operate same coming entirely from en-
The past ten years has witnessed wonderful development and interest in poultry husbandry. This has been due to a considerable extent, to the development of egg laying contests in America. These contests have demonstrated the wonderful ability of hens to lay eggs. They have likewise demonstrated, that hens differ in their egg laying ability. These contests have done much to focus public interest upon poultry raising and its possibilities. These contests have also been instrumental in solving many perplexing problems of management, with the result that poultry raising is now carried on far more efficiently than" formerly, or than it probably would have been had not egg laying contests become so firmly established. Early egg laying contests were started by private interest, largely for advertising advantage. Note:—See New Jersey bulletin 338, page 6. In recent years the development of egg-laying contests has been stimulated largely by a public desire for the development of fundamental facts regarding the improvement of methods of production. It seems fitting that the Journal of the American Association of Instructors and Investigators in Poultry Husbandry, should at this time, report rather fully upon the development of these contests to date, in order that all of this information may be available in concentrated form, and in order that we may have some record of historical value in bringing this work up to date. The following is a list of laying competitions under State College, Experiment Station or Federal supervision, and are now operating in the United States. Annual International Egg-Laying Contest, Storrs, Conn. Connecticut AgApplieation made for entry as second class matter at New Brunswick, N. J., P. O. 49
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THE DEVELOPMENT OF EGG LAYING CONTESTS IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA.
Page
try fees and the income from eggs. The entry fee consists of $20.00 per pen of 10 hens. There are 100 pens in the Contest. The contest operates for a single year of 52 weeks. Four acres of land are devoted to contest purposes. The birds are housed in double pen, gable roof, open front houses. For complete description see Storrs bulletin 82. The following table shows some of the more interesting and striking results accomplished at Storrs during the progress of the Contest there.
National Egg Laying Contest during the years of its development are given. During the second and third contest there were ten birds to each entry. During the eighth contest, hen number 7 in pen 10 of Rhode Island Whites, make a record of 302 eggs.
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During the first two contests, five birds only were required for each entry. The following statement is interesting in that it gives mass results over a period of years. During the first eight years at the Connecticut Contest, there was a total of 6,800 birds entered. They laid 1,051,563 eggs, or an average annual yield of 154.8 eggs per hen, or 42.5 per cent. The National Egg Laying Contest at Mountain Grove, Mo., was established at the same time as the Connecticut Contest, just referred to. This contest is held under the supervision of the Missouri State Poultry Experiment Station. It is under the supervision of Mr. T. W. Noland, Director of said Station. The contest is for one year's duration, beginning November 1st of each year, and runs for 52 weeks. This contest is supported by entry fees and State appropriation. The entry fee is $10.00 per pen for residents of Missouri, and $20.00 per pen for non-residents of Missouri. Five competing pullets and one substitute are allowed in each entry. Five acres of ground are devoted to contest purposes. The Contest houses are 8 x 10 feet, shed roof structures, 8 feet high in front and 6 feet high in the rear, with a partition in the center of each house, allowing two pens of birds to each house. The double yarding system is used for each flock, consisting of a yard 30 feet wide and 80 feet long in the front of each house, and one the same size in the rear. The following interesting results accomplished at the
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The next contest which have been established in the United States, was the Arksansas State Egg Laying Contest at Fayetteville, Ark. This contest is under the supervision of the State University of Arkansas, the supervising official being Prof. H. E. Dvorachek. This contest was started in January 1915. The contest is supported by State appropriation, entry fees, and the sales of the products. $3000.00 is appropriated annually by the State of Arkansas for the development of this work. An entry fee of $5.00 is charged for each entry of 5 competing birds and -one substitute. Twenty entries constitute the contest. Each contest is of one year duration. Five acres are devoted to contest purposes. The contest houses are of the open front style, shed roof construction, 8 x 10 feet, with yards 40 x 130 feet. The following records of performance have been made at the Arkansas State Egg Laying Contest during the period of its operation. o Z
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The Vineland International Egg Jjaying and Breeding Contest, located at Vineland, N. J., was next established. This Contest is supervised by the New Jersey State Agricultural Experiment Station, the supervising official being Prof. H. R. Lewis. The Vineland Contest was started November 1st, 1916. It is supported by State appropriation, by 50
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Future Contest Work In New Jersey The development of the Egg Laying and Breeding Contest has proven so popular that the organized poultry interests of the State have secured the necessary legislative enactment to develop this project until three similar stations shall be operated in the State, the Vineland Contest in South Jersey, the Northern Contest in Bergen County and a Central Contest in Middlesex County. The act authorizing this development follows: An Act empowering the department of poultry husbandry at the State Agricultural Experiment Station to conduct three egg-laying and breed-testing stations, and providing for the locations thereof, and providing for an
appropriation therefor. Be it enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey: 1. The State Agricultural Experiment Station is hereby authorized to conduct three egg-laying and breed-testing stations in New Jersey as a part of the regular research work of said experiment station and to employ such assistants as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this act. Said egglaying and breed-testing stations shall be located as follows: One in southern New Jersey in the vicinity of Vineland, Cumberland county; one in northern New Jersey in the vicinity of Westwood, Bergen county, and one in the central part of the State of New Jersey, the exact location to be designated by the said department of poultry husbandry of the State Agricultural Experiment Station. 2. The sum of fifteen thousand dollars, or five thousand dollars for each testing station under operation, is hereby appropriated annually to the State Agricultural Experiment Station for the maintenance and promotion of such breed-testing stations, providing that no part of the sums appropriated shall become available until the amount thereof has been included in either a supplemental or regular appropriation bill. 3. All acts and parts of acts inconsistent herewith be and the same are hereby repealed. 4. This act shall take effect immediately. Approved March 22, 1920. These contests in New Jersey are largely a cooperative affair and are established and operated on the following financial basis: 1. Each contest plant is built with funds raised by private subscriptions from poultrymen, farmers and business men in the section of the state where it is located. 2. The State of New Jersey appropriates funds to enable the Department of Poultry Husbandry of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station to supervise the contest and to secure and analyse the great mass of valuable and original research factors which are made available by such a contest. 3. An entry fee of $50.00, covering a full three-year period, is charged for each pen, which amount pays for prizes and publicity and enables the contest to keep in close touch with the contestants. 4. The revenue from the sale of market eggs and stock sold to contestants during the yearling year goes toward the maintenance of the contest, paying for feed, labor and miscellaneous expenditures. From now on these contests in New 51
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income from the sale of products and by entry fees. $5000.00 is appropriated annually by the State of New Jersey to the Agricultural Experiment Station for the development of this work. An entry fee of $50.00 per pen of 10 birds is charged to cover a three-year period. The Vineland Contest is of three years duration, and is an egg-laying, as well as a breeding contest. The original pullets entered are trap-nested the first year and are held over during their second or yearling year, and still trapnested. During the spring of this year they are mated to male birds provided by the contestants and sufficient eggs are hatched to secure 10 vigorous, healthy pullets, which are put in their place the third year, the original birds being returned to the owner the last day of October. The New Jersey Contest is hence, a progeny testing and breeding contest, rather than a simple one-year egg-laying contest. November 1st, 1919, a new contest of three years duration was started, one entry consisting of 20 birds. These to be culled to 12 for the breeding work the second year, and to be replaced by 20 of their daughters the third year. 13 acres of land are devoted for contest purposes, six being used for contest pens and seven for brooding and rearing ranges. Single pen 8 x 10, shed roof, colony houses are used at Vineland. Complete working plans and photographs are shown in the New Jersey bulletin 338. The following table shows the results secured during the first three years of the Vineland Contest.
Washington Experiment Station at Puyallup, Wash., November 1st, 1919. The supervising official is Prof. George R. Shoup. This contest is supported by State funds, by entry fees, by the sale of products and by private support guaranteed by poultrymen to be used if needed. The entry fee is $1.00 per bird. The contest consists of 47 entries of five competing pullets and one alternate. The duration of the contest is for one year. One-half acre of land is devoted to contest purposes. The contest birds are housed in one long laying house at the Western Washington Experiment Station. Since this contest is in the first year of operation, no records of performance are available. Since preparing this data the writer understands that another egg-laying contest has been established by the California Farm Bureau at Santa Cruz, Cal. It is known as the California Farm Bureau Egg Laying Contest. The supervising official is Mr. M. A. Kortum, Director, Santa Cruz, Calif. NOTE:—The Editor of the Journal of the American Association of Instructors and Investigators in Poultry Husbandry, will be glad to receive additional information or facts relative to the development of Egg Laying contests in the United States, and would be pleased to receive regular publications giving the results of these contests, in order that subsequent reports may be made public, regarding the development of these lines of activity. The Development of Egg Laying Competitions in Canada The following is a list of the Canadian Egg Laying Competitions being conducted under Provincial Agricultural College, Experiment Station or Federal supervision. International Laying Contest, Victoria, B. C. Province Dept. Agr., J. R. Terry. Canadian Egg Laying Contest, Ottawa, Ont. Dominion Exp. Farm, T. C. Elford. Prince Edward Island Egg Laying Contest, Charlottetown, P. E. I. Dominion Exp. Farm, J. A. Clark. Alberta Egg Laying Contest, Leghbridge, Alta. Dominion Exper. Farm, W. H. Fairfield. Nova Scotia Egg Laying Contest, Nappan, N. S. Dominion Exp. Farm, W. W. Baird. Manatoba Egg Laying Contest, Brandan, Manatoba. Dominion Exp. Farm, W. C. McKillican. Saskatchewan Egg Laying Contest, Indian Head, Sask. Dominion Exp. Farm, A. B. McKenzie. (continued on page 53, second column.) 52
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Jersey will be known as Egg Laying and Breed Testing Stations, and much good to the development of the poultry industry in the State is expected. North West Egg Laying Contest On November 1st, 1916, the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station inaugurated its first egg-laying contest, which was located at Lexington, Ky., the supervising official was J. J. Hooper. This contest was a one-year egg-laying conest. An entry consisted of Ave pullets and one reserve bird. An entry fee of $15.00 was charged to residents of Kentucky, and $25.00 for poultrymen residing outside of the State. The contest was supported by entry fee, and sale of products. This contest was run for only one year and then discontinued during the war, due to lack of funds. Prof. Martin writes that they are in the hopes of reviving same before very long, although no definite decision has been reached as yet. The Texas National Egg Laying Contest was started November 1st, 1917. It was started as a joint cooperative project of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station and the Extension Service of the Texas Agricultural College. The houses, yards and labor are provided by the Experiment Station. The supervising officials of the contest are Prof. F. W. Kasmeier and T. J. Conway. It is located at College Station, Texas. The contest is supported exclusively by the entry fee and by the sale of products produced. An entry fee of $10.00 for each pen of five birds is charged. 24 entries constitute the present contest. The contest is conducted for a period of one year, approximately one acre of land is devoted to contest purposes. The report of the first Texas National Egg Laying Contest has appeared in print form as bulletin 246 of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station. The Nebraska National Egg Laying Contest was established at Lincoln, Nebr., by the Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station, November 1st, 1919. The supervising official is Prof. Frank E. Mussehl. The contest is supported largely by entry fees, and the sale of products. Limited departmental funds are available if needed. Facilities are provided for 100 entries consisting of ten birds each. $18.00 per year is the entry fee charged. The contest is of a single year's duration. Five acres of land are devoted to purposes of the contest. The plan and outline of the contest is described in circular No. 7, of the Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station. Since the contest is now running in its first year, no data is yet available for publication. The Western Washington Egg Laying Contest was established at the Western
(continued from page 52.)
Editorial
53
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Quebec Egg Laying Contest, Cap Rouge, Quebec. Dominion Exp. Farm, An organization of Individuals and In- Bus. Langelier. stitutions primarily engaged In InstrucNova Scotia Annual Egg Laying Contion, Investigation and extension In test, Truro, N. S. J. P. Landry. poultry husbandry. Canada vies with the United States Publication Committee in the honor of having established the W. R. GRAHAM, first egg laying contest in America. The W. F. KIRKPATRICK, International Egg Laying Contest was JAMES E. RICE. established at Victoria, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, in the fall of Editor. 1911. Entries were received at this HARRT R. LEWIS, contest from Australia and New ZeaNew Brunswick, N .J. land during its first year of operation. This Journal is published monthly for This contest is under the supervision of ten months each Dear. the Department of Agriculture, and is While published primarily for the use held at the Victoria Exhibition Grounds, of the members, additional copies may by arrangement with the British Columbe secured for individual or library flies bia Agricultural Association. The supervising official of this contest is Mr. at the following rates: J. R. Terry of the Department of AgriSubscription Price, $1.00 per year. culture, Victoria. This contest is supPrice of a single copy, 15 cents. ported by the Dominion Government Grant, by entry fees and by the sale of the products produced. There are 40 OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR entries in the contest. An entry fee of ORGANIZATION. $5.00 is charged for each entry of six It is getting nearer and nearer to the pullets. This contest is of varying time for our annual meeting. With this periods of duration from 11 to 12 No effort has been made to meeting comes definite responsibility to • months. trapnest the birds at this contest, until every member of our association. These the current year. The following repreresponsibilities are two-fold. sents the average production secured First—Make every effort to be present per bird, from the various contests held in person and contribute to the success at Victoria. of the meeting in every way possible. Production M o n t h s 12 The largest attendance at any annual 109 145.7 10 meeting is our hope for the coming year. 164.2 11 Second—We all owe our organization 165.4 12 every effort to insure a successful pro151.6 11 gram to this purpose. Let every mem159.8 12 154.7 11 ber get into communication with Presi158.2 11 dent Kirkpatrick and submit subjects The next contest established in Canfor paper or addresses which can be givada was the Prince Edward Island Con. en at the annual meeting. test, established at the Dominion ExA LARGE ENTHUSIASTIC ATTEND- perimental Station, Charlottetown, P. E. ANCE. I. It was started November 1st, 1918. J. A. Clark is the present superintendTHE BEST PROGRAM EVER. ent. This contest is supported by Dominion Government Grant, by private A VALUABLE PUBLICATION. subscription, by entry fees and by the sale of products. The entry fee in 1918The Department of Farms and Mar- 19 was $1.00 per pen, during the curkets of the State of New York have re- rent year it is $5.00. In 1918-19, 20 cently issued a number of their Journal entries of 8 birds each made up the condevoted to Foods and Markets. It is test. During the current year 22 enof 10 birds each, constitute the Volume No. 2, January, 1920. This tries contest. In 1918-19 the contest was of publication discusses from many angles 11 months duration. During the curthe problems of marketing eggs, and is rent year it will be for one year of 52 a very valuable contribution to our cur- weeks. One acre of land is devoted to rent poultry literature. It can be se- the purposes of the Contest. The concured by addressing Dr. E. H. Porter, test houses are of frame construction, 10 x 12 feet with shed roof. They are Albany, New York.
Certificates will be issued for all birds qualifying in the Record of Performance. The birds that qualify shall also be identified by a sealed band and the numbered registered. The Record of Performance for poultry is to be devided into two parts,— "A" and "AA". Record of Performance "A". This is to consist of the inspection of trap-nested flocks on individual poultry plants and shall be similar in form to the Record of Performance for dairy cattle. It will be open to any breeder that wishes to enter his flock and will be under the supervision and inspection of officers of the Poultry Division of the Live Stock Branch. Record of Performance "AA". This will consist of the conducting of tests under Government supervision and on Government or neutral ground, for the purpose of obtaining an official record by actual trap-nest results. This official test may be conducted by either Federal or Provincial Government of Colleges and may be secured by: 1. "Laying Tests." 2. "Laying Contests." Record of Performance "A" will be under the supervision and direction of officers of the Poultry Division of the Experimental Farms Branch. Official Requirement of Entrants In Record of Performance "A". All entries shall be made upon forms supplied by the Department and subject to Departmental rule and regulations. Applications for entry must be dated and mailed one month in advance of the date it is desired the record shall commence. For purposes of organizations during the present year 1919, applications will be received for individual birds to commence their records on the 1st of September, the 1st of October, the 1st of November and 1st of December. There shall be an entry fee of one dollar ($1) for the first ten birds entered and five cents (5c) for each additional bird. Only pure bred stock of standard varieties and free from standard disqualifications may be entered. The minimum entry shall not be less than ten birds from any one flock. All stock entered shall be trap-nested during the period of the official test, which in no case will exceed fifty-two weeks. All equipment on inspected plants shall be kept in a clean and sanitary condition. Records shall be kept posted up to 54
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open front construction with muslin curtains. Each house is divided into two pens. Each house has a yard 20 feet by 50 feet. During 1918-19, no yard room was allowed. The average number of eggs laid per bird during the first year of the contest was 130 or 38.65 per cent production. Four birds, or 2.5 per cent laid 200 eggs or over, during the first year. Federal Action to Establish Egg Laying Contests in Canada Canada has recently attempted to unify the development of its record of performance work with poultry. It will be of interest to everyone to know how this standardization is being worked out. The following is an official report of plan for establishing the record of performance work. An Official "Record of Performance" F o r Poultry A review of the present and prospective egg and poultry situation points strongly to the fact that the economical production is going to be an increasingly important factor in meeting the competition of the world on the export market. While the cost of unit production in the poultry business is affected by many conditions, it has been clearly evident for some time that no factor has a more potent bearing on cost than the productiveness of the individual bird. It requires a certain number of eggs to pay for the feed fed and labor expended. The number required varies according to the cost. Profitable production can only be obtained by having a safe margin of eggs over the equivalent of cost, the more eggs per bird the greater the remuneration. Increased production both in the individual and in the flock has been shown to be largely a matter of breeding. The Record of Performance for poultry is a policy planned to give point, direction and encouragement to the breeding of poultry along lines of greatly increased individual and flock production. The minimum record to permit a bird to qualify in the record of Performance has been set at one hundred and fifty eggs in fifty-two consecutive weeks and for qualification in the Advanced RecorS of Performance a minimum of two hundred and twenty-five eggs in fifty-two consecutive weeks. The weight and quality of the eggs during the month of April shall not be lower than that of the grade "Specials" in the Canadian Standards.
tests on the Experimental Farms must be made before September first, but as the number which can be accommodated is limited, it is advisable to make application early. Entry blanks, Rules and Regulations, may be secured from the Poultry Division, Experimental Farm, Ottawa. All birds in tests or contests that qualify for Record of Performance or Advanced Record of Performance will receive the certificate of registration. The following are the Egg Laying Contests, now operating under the "AA" group. The Canadian Egg l a y i n g Contest, located at the Dominion Experiment Farms at Ottawa, Canada. This contest is under the supervision of the Dominion Poultry Husbandman, and is supported by a Federal grant of about $10,000.00, and an entry fee of $15.00 per pen, which is all returned In prize money. This contest consists of 50 entries of 10 birds each. One-half acre of land is provided for the purposes of this contest, with no yards. The duration of this contest is 52 weeks. Provincial Contests were established last fall at the following points: Alberta Egg Laying Contest, Leghbridge, Alta. Nova Scotia Egg Laying Contest, Nappon, N. S. Manatoba Egg Laying Contest, Brandan, Manatoba. Saskatchewan Egg Laying Contest, Indian Head, Sask. Quebec Egg Laying Contest, Cap Rouge, Quebec. All of these provincial contests are under the supervision of the Dominion Poultry Husbandman. They are each suported by a Government Grant of about $4000.00. An entry fee of $5.00 for each pen of 10 birds is charged. Each contest has capacity for 20 entries. One-half acre is provided for the purposes of each contest. No yards whatsoever are provided. Each contest is of one year duration. The birds are housed in double pen colony houses, 10 x 14 feet. NOTE:—This standardization of contest activities in Canada should do much to bring about rapid development and excellent results from this activity. There is in the province of Nova Scotia, another egg laying contest started November 1st, 1919 by the Poultry Department of the Agricultural College, lo-^ cated at Truro. The supervising official is Mr. J. P. Landry. The Contest is supported by the sale of eggs and poultry, by entry fees and by appropriations 55
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date at all times for the information of visiting inspectors. Only eggs actually found in trapnests shall be counted. Entrants shall use prescribed record forms. These shall consist of weekly house records and monthly or yearly book records. The weekly records shall be mailed regularly by the breeder to the Department. The fullest information shall be given to official inspectors and any entrant who offers opposition renders his entry liable to cancellation. Methods of Inspection All flocks will be placed under systematic, periodic, unannounced inspection. Official visits will be at irregular intervals; they may average once a month or more frequently as occasion demanded. The general health, condition of the stock, current productiveness and the ordinary physical and visual tests of egg laying will be used by inspectors in checking the accuracy of the records. Inspectors required for the Record of Performance will be chosen by special Civil Service Examination. In case of an inspector's decision being questioned by the owner of the flock, another examination by the inspector may be given or, at the option of the Department, another inspector may be sent. In either case a second inspection by the same or another inspector will be considered final. For further particulars in reference to Record of Performance "A" inquire of the Poultry Division of the Dominion Live Stock Branch, Ottawa. Record of Performance "AA" General Information Laying Tests and Laying contest both will be used as mediums to obtain the qualifications for entrance to the Record of Performance. The major portion of tests and contests will be conducted by the Experimental Farm upon its Central and Branch Farms but Provincial Departments of Agriculture and Colleges also may conduct these. Laying tests are distinguished from contests in that they are not competitive, but merely for the purposes of obtaining an official record of production. As low as three birds and up to five may be entered in a test. At present complete arrangements are made by the Dominion Experimental Farm to hold these tests at all of its Farms throughout the Dominion. Applications for both tests and con-
Amount: Feed according to the appetite of the birds; no definite rule can be given. Feed scantily of grain in the morning and give all the grain they will eat in the afternoon in time to find it before dark. There should be no grain in the litter at noon; when found, it indicates feeding too much in the morning. In general, feed by weight 2-3 parts of grain to 2 parts of mash. When the birds are laying heavily they should consume a larger amount of mash. Litter: Induce exercise by feeding all grain in dry, clean straw litter, 6 to 8 inches deep. The common straws, in their order of desirability, are wheat, oats, barley, rye and buckwheat; shredded or cut corn stalks; shavings or
QO NOT FAIL to attend the annual meeting of our association at Purdue University, Lafayette, Ind. the 3d week in August. PROCRAMS W I L L SOON BE AVAILABLE
I 6
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from the Department of Agriculture of leaves may be used where straw is not the Province of Nova Scotia. The entry available. All feed and litter should be fee is $5.00 per pen of five birds each"} strictly clean and free from mustiness, The entries are limited to 30 birds. The mold or decay. Serious losses frequentContest is to be run for a period of 48 ly occur from these sources due to the weeks. An area of land 394 feet by 110 spores which may deevlop into fungus feet, is devoted to the purposes of the molds in the lungs or intestines. Contest. The contest houses are 12 bj Green Feed: A green range of alfal12 feet square, each, provided with a fa, clover or grass furnishes the ideal yard 12 x 50 feet. This being the first condition. When these are not availvear of the Contest, no records of per- able it is necessary to give the birffs formance are available. some kind of succulent food. Mangel How About the Registry Council? ; beets, cabbage, sprouted oats or green are usually considered the best At our last annual meeting a resplur clover feeds. If thees are not obtaintion was passed authorizing the estab- 'green able, apples and potatoes make a valulishment of a Registry Council. able addition to the ration. Feed at nobn in such amounts as the birds will New York State College of Agrieul- .', cle.an up before night. This will require ture at Cornell University, Ithaca, N. about 35 to 40 pounds per week for 100 Y., Dept. of Poultry Husbandry. Stencil hens. Decayed or frozen feeds should No. 1418. , not be used as they are a common source of digestive disorders. CORNELL RATION FOR LAYING Grit and Oyster Shell: Hard, sharp HENS. grit is necessary for grinding feed; oyster shell to supply lime for egg shells. Scratch Grain Neither.,-will replace the other. (Formula 200) • Water: I dozen eggs contains about 500 pounds cracked corn 1 pint of water. Clean, fresh, pure 200 pounds barley water should be kept constantly before 200 pounds wheat .the" hensiand should be renewed a t least 100 pounds heavy oats once daily. Fed by hand morning and afternoon Moist Mash: Recommended only to in deep straw litter. ' hasten the development of late hatched Mash Mixture pullets or to help in keeping up egg (Formula 201) production of hens in late summer, espe100 pounds wheat bran cially those hens which are not to be 100 pounds wheat middlings used for breeders the following spring. 100 pounds corn meal Breeds: This ration is recommended 100 pounds ground oats or ground for all' .breeds but it is to be varied as barley to the method of feeding. In the case 100 pounds meat scrap 'of^.heavier varieties, feed more scantily 3 pounds salt of", grain in the morning and so enFed dry in hoppers. tourage exercise. FEEDING METHODS AND PRACTICE.