NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
216
Nutritional Experiments with Chickens
showed the typical symptoms of depraved appetite, consuming such objects
as nails, pieces of wire and paper. The mortality from 0-6 weeks, whilst
on water, was 20 chicks or 47.6 per cent, which is very much in excess of the
normal. The birds pick d up very considerably from 6-8 weeks, when fed
on milk in place of water, and only two deaths occurred during this period.
From 8-12 weeks, the birds again fell back in condition and two more deaths
occurred during the 11-12th week. From 12-24 weeks, when fed on milk
and water, the condition of the birds improved very rapidly and no deaths
occurred after the 14th week. The total percentage mortality from 0-24
weeks of 61.9 was very much in excess of the normal. All the birds which
died were very much emaciated and the intestines were usually almost void
of food. The gizzard contents were abnormal in that they contained excessive
quantities of such materials as wire, nails and glass, all indicative of depraved
appetite. The gizzard linings were very much eroded and darkened in colour
suggesting that the diet of the birds was deficient in the gizzard factor, which
is essential for normal growth of the gizzard.
Egg production.—Table VII gives details of the age at first egg, the per-
centage of birds laying at 24 weeks and the average egg production and egg
size per bird for each breed on the two rations under test.
TABLE VII
Egg production
Group
Breed
Age at first egg (days)
Percentage of birds laying at 24 weeks
Average number of eggs per bird to 24
weeks
Average egg size (oz.)
1
White
Leghorn
137
42.8
10.1
1.61
Rhode
Island
Red
134
16.6
12.9
1.51
2
White
Leghorn
159
20.0
0.83
1.55
Rhode
Island
Red
215
0.0
0.0
0.0
The first eggs in the milk-fed group were produced at 134 and 137 days
by the Rhode Island Reds and White Leghorns respectively. The corres-
ponding figures in Group 2 were 215 and 159 days. In the milk-fed group,
42.8 per cent of the White Leghorns and 16.6 per cent of the Rhode Island
Reds had started to lay at 24 weeks, whereas in Group 2 only 21 per cent of the
Leghorns and none of the Rhode Island Reds had started to lay. At 24
weeks the average egg production per bird in Group 1 was 10.1 for the White
Leghorns and 12.9 for the Rhode Island Reds. The corresponding figures
for the water-fed group were 0.83 and nil for the Leghorns and Rhode Island
Reds respectively.
A. J. MACDONALD 217
Conclusions.—(1) The feeding of a ration consisting of cereals plus
liberal amounts of calcium and green food to chickens resulted in very poor
growth, high mortality and very poor food utilization.
(2) The cereal ration appeared to be deficient in a factor necessary for the
normal growth of the gizzard.
(3) Cereals supplemented by calcium, green food and separated milk,
instead of water, to drink gave excellent growth results from 0-10 weeks.
(4) From 10 weeks onwards the basal ration plus separated milk and water
to drink gave satisfactory growth results.
(5) Birds receiving milk to drink came into lay considerably earlier than
birds on the basal ration only.
Experiment 2
The results obtained in Experiment 1 demonstrated the value of supple-
menting cereal rations with separated milk but gave no information concerning
the optimum amount of milk that should be fed to give maximum results.
As milk is a somewhat expensive article of diet, a second experiment was
conducted to throw more light on this important problem and to see if the
chicks would balance up their ration effectively when separated milk and
water were fed in separate containers.
Stock.—A total of 172 day-old chicks hatched in January, 1939 were
wing-banded and divided up into two similar groups as follows :—
Breed
Desi
White Leghorn
Rhode Island Red
Total
Number of chicks
Group 3
27
29
31
87
Group 4
27
28
30
85
Feeding.—Both the groups were fed on the basal rations used in Experi-
ment 1.
Group 3 was fed the- basal ration and separated milk only to drink during
the first 8 weeks and separated milk and water in separate containers from
8-24 weeks. Group 4 was fed separated milk and water in separate con-
tainers from day-old onward. The methods of feeding and management
adopted were similar to those used in Experiment 1 but in this instance the
cockerels were removed from the experiment at 12 weeks.
Rate of growth.—Table VIII gives a statement of the average weights in
ounces of the cockerels and pullets of each breed at weekly intervals from
0-8 weeks and at bi-weekly intervals from 8-24 weeks.
218
Nutritional Experiments with Chickens
TABLE VIII
Average weights in ounces for each breed
Pay old
1 week
2 weeks
3
„
4
„
5 „
6
„
7
„
8
„
10 „
12 „
14 „
16 „
18 „
20 „
22 „
24 „
Breed
Group
Sex
White Leghorn
3
Male
1.52
2.34
4.3
6.0
9.1
12.1
16.6
21.6
28.0
35.1
41.6
Female
1.46
2.03
3.8
5.2
7.8
10.3
13.8
17.6
22.4
29.3
36.0
41.0
41.6
45.5
50.7
57.8
62.0
4
Male
1.50
2.08
3.6
5.3
7.4
10.4
12.9
17.6
21.7
31.5
42.9
Female
1.49
1.85
3.0
4.5
6.9
9.8
12.1
15.8
19.2
28.2
35.0
40.2
40.6
43.4
51.4
55.4
62.0
Rhode Island Red
3
Male
1.48
2.23
4.5
5.5
8.6
11.0
14.6
18.5
24.2
32.4
40.0
Female
1.46
1.96
3.8
5.2
7.6
10.3
13.6
17.7
23.0
29.2
35.8
39.6
40.8
45.1
51.1
58.2
61.3
4
Male
1.47
1.84
3.1
4.9
6.6
8.7
12.5
15.9
19.5
29.9
40.8
Female
1.49
1.86
3.0
4.3
5.5
7.7
10.4
13.1
16.1
23.6
32.0
36.5
38.7
43.2
50.8
58.2
62.5
Desi
3
Male
1.11
1.67
3.1
4.0
6.1
8.5
11.6
15.1
19.6
26.9
33.2
Female
1.11
1.67
3.2
4.3
6.3
8.6
11.7
15.1
19.4
25.4
31.6
36.1
37.5
41.2
46.7
49.4
50.8
4
Male
1.05
1.50
2.6
3.6
5.3
7.9
10.0
13.3
15.0
23.8
32.2
Female
1.13
1.55
2.5
3.7
5.2
7.4
9.8
13.1
15.7
22.6
30.9
34.1
36.7
39.7
45.6
48.3
50.8
A. J. MACDONALD 219
The weights of the cockerels and pullets of all the three breeds were
greater in Group 3 than in Group 4 at each weekly weighing from 1-8 weeks
of age. The differences in weights between the corresponding birds in the two
groups became consistently greater at each weekly weighing so that at 8 weeks
the birds in Group 3 were significantly heavier than those in Group 4. At 8
weeks the average weights of the White Leghorn, Rhode Island Red and
desi males were 28.0, 24.2 and 19.6 oz. respectively, whilst the corres-
ponding figures in Group 4 were 21.7, 19.5 and 15.0 oz. The average
weights of the females in Group 3 at 8 weeks were White Leghorns 22.4 oz.,
Rhode Island Reds 23.0 oz. and desis 19.4 oz., whilst in Group 4 the corres-
ponding weights were 19.2, 16.1 and 15.7 oz. respectively. From 8
weeks onwards, whilst both groups were fed on the same rations, Group 4 grew
slightly faster than Group 3. At 12 weeks of age, when the birds were sexed,
there were no significant differences between the weights of the cockerels and
pullets of Group 3 and the corresponding birds in Group 4 except in the case
of the Rhode Island Red pullets, which were still significantly heavier in
Group 3. From 12-24 weeks of age the rate of growth of the pullets of each
breed was very similar in both groups for each period of the experiment. At
24 weeks the average weights of the pullets in Group 3 were White Leghorns
62.0 oz., Rhode Island Reds 61.3 oz. and desis 50.8 oz. The corresponding
figures in Group 4 were 62.0, 62.5 and 50.8 oz.
Food consumption.—Table IX gives the average food consumption per
bird in pounds for each group for each period of 4 weeks and the food consump-
tion in pounds per pound of live weight gain.
TABLE IX
Food consumption
Period
1. 0-4 weeks
2. 4-8 „
3. 8-12 „
4. 12-16 „
5. 16-20 „
6. 20-24 „
Average food consumption
per bird (lb.)
Group 3
1.46
3.07
5.03
4.28
3.85
5.14
Group 4
1.54
2.92
5.05
4.68
4.35
4.74
Food consumption in lb.
per pound live weight gain
Group 3
3.88
3.05
6.52
8.54
7.00
8.85
Group 4
5.77
3.63
4.86
9.45
7.78
10.20
The average food consumption was fairly similar for each period for both
groups. During periods 1 and 2 Group 3 made better utilization of the food
consumed than Group 4 but in period 3 Group 4 made better utilization than
220
Nutritional Experiments with Chickens
Group 3. The better utilization of the food consumed during periods 1 and 2
by Group 3 is due to the fact that the birds consumed practically the same
amounts of food as Group 4 but made better gains in weight during each
period. During period 3, the birds in Group 4 made greater gains in weight
than Group 3 without a corresponding increase in food consumption. From
12 weeks onwards the food consumptions were somewhat erratic and no con-
clusion can be drawn from the results obtained. The average food con-
sumptions per bird in Groups 3 and 4 from 0-24 weeks were 22.83 lb. and
23.28 lb. respectively.
Milk consumption.—Table X gives details of the milk and water con-
sumptions by both groups during the different stages of the experiment but
in period 6 no record was kept of the water consumed as it was impossible to
measure it accurately owing to the onset of the monsoon.
TABLE X
Average consumption (in lb.) of milk and water
Period
1. 0-4 weeks
2. 4-8
„
3. 8-12 „
4. 12-16 „
5. 16-20 „
6. 20-24 „
Group 3
Average
milk
consumption
per chick
(lb.)
1.68
4.74
2.18
4.28
6.25
7.34
Average
water
consumption
per chick
(lb.)
Nil
Nil
5.66
11.08
15.05
Unrecorded
Group 4
Average
milk
consumption
per chick
(lb.)
0.99
2.84
3.81
5.17
7.19
7.90
Average
water
consumption
per chick
(lb.)
0.63
1.78
1.93
9.57
13.33
Unrecorded
The average milk consumption in Group 3 from 0-8 weeks, when re-
ceiving milk only, was 6.42 lb. During period 3, whilst fed on both milk and
water, the average consumptions of milk and water per chick were 2.18 lb.
and 5.66 lb. respectively. During periods 4 and 5 there was a very consid-
erable rise in the milk consumption but there was also a corresponding rise
in the water consumption. During period 6 the milk consumption per chick
rose to 7.34 lb. but unfortunately it was impossible to measure the water
consumption as the birds consumed water from pools in the runs.
During periods 1 and 2 Group 4 consumed appreciably less milk than
Group 3 but this was offset by the birds consuming considerable quantities
A. J. MACDONALD 221
of water. The total consumptions of milk and water from 0-8 weeks were
3.83 lb. and 2.41 lb. respectively. During period 3, the milk consumption
was greater than that of Group 3 but the birds consumed proportionately
less water. During the subsequent periods the proportions of water to milk
consumed gradually decreased but in each period the consumption of milk
was relatively higher than that for Group 3. The total average consumption
of milk from 0-24 weeks in Group 4 was 27.9 lb., whilst in the same
period the average consumption by Group 3 was 26.47 lb.
Protein consumption.—Table XI gives details of the total protein per-
centages contained in the food consumed for the different periods from 0.24
weeks.
TABLE XI
Protein consumption
Period
1. 0-4 weeks
2. 4-8
„
3. 8-12 „
4. 12-16 „
5. 16-20 „
6. 20-24 „
Group 3
Percentage
of
protein
13.8
14.8
12.0
13.4
14.8
14.7
Group 4
Percentage
of
protein
12.8
13.2
12.9
13.7
15.7
14.7
The protein consumption in Group 3 rose from 13.8 per cent in period
1 to 14.8 per cent in period 2. In period 3, when fed on water as well as
milk, the protein consumption fell to 12.0 per cent but rose to 13.4 per cent
in period 4 and 14.8 per cent in period 5. The protein consumption in period
6 of 14.7 per cent was practically the same as that in period 5. In Group 4,
the protein consumption remained fairly steady during the first three
periods, the figures being 12.8 per cent, 13.2 per cent and 12.9 percent.
The protein consumptions in periods 4 and 5 were 13.7 per cent and 15.7 per
cent respectively but declined to 14.7 per cent in period 6.
Mortality.—Table XII gives a statement of the mortality which occurred
in Groups 3 and 4 during different stages of the experiment.
222
Nutritional Experiments with Chickens
TABLE XII
Mortality
Period
1. 0-1 week
2. 1-2 weeks
3. 2-3 „
4. 3-4 „
5. 4-6 „
6. 6-7 „
7. 7-24 „
Total mortality
Percentage mortality
Deaths
Group 3
3
1
..
3
..
..
1
8
9.3
Group 4
4
3
5
4
1
3
2
22
25. 9
Group 3 maintained good health throughout and the total mortality of
8 chickens, representing 9.3 per cent, was quite satisfactory. Seven of the
eight deaths occurred during the first four weeks. Group 4 had not as good a
health record and the total mortality of 22 chickens, representing 25.9 per
cent, is somewhat higher than normal. Though the major part of the mor-
tality also, occurred during the first four weeks, deaths at the later stages
were more frequent than in the case of Group 3. During the first eight weeks
of the experiment the chickens in Group 3 handled better, were better feathered
and more alert than those in Group 4 but in the later stages there were no
appreciable differences in appearance between the two groups.
Egg production.—Table XIII gives particulars in regard to the age at
first egg, the percentage of birds laying at 24 weeks and the average egg
production and size for each breed in both groups.
TABLE XIII
Egg production
Group
Breed
Age at first egg (days)
Percentage of birds laying
at 24 weeks
Average number of eggs per
bird to 24 weeks
Average egg weight (oz.)
3
White
Leg-
horn
154
27.3
1.2
1.47
Rhode
Island
Red
174
0
0
0
Desi
137
72.7
12.3
1.28
4
White
Leg-
horn
184
0
0
0
Rhode
Island
Red
187
0
0
0
Desi
130
53.8
7.4
1.26
A. J.
MACDONALD
223
In Group 3 the first eggs were produced by the White Leghorns, Rhode
Island Reds and desis at 154, 174 and 137 days respectively. In Group 4,
the corresponding figures were 184, 187 and 136 days. In Group 3, 27.3 per
cent of the Leghorns and 72.7 per cent of the desis had started to lay by 24
weeks, whereas none of the Leghorns and 53.8 per cent of the desis had
produced eggs in Group 4. At 24 weeks the average egg production per bird
in Group 3 was 1 . 2 for the Leghorns and 12 . 3 for the desis. The correspond-
ing figures for Group 4 were nil for the Leghorns and 7 . 4 for the desis.
Conclusions.—(1) From 0-8 weeks the feeding of a basal ration consist-
ing of cereals plus liberal amounts of green food and calcium supplemented
by separated milk only to drink gave better results than the same basal ration
plus free choice of milk and water to drink.
(2) From 8 weeks onwards birds given free choice of milk and water to
drink made satisfactory gains in weight even though consuming more water
than milk.
(3) Birds fed on milk only to drink from 0-8 weeks and milk and water
to drink from 8 weeks onwards came into production earlier than birds fed on
milk and water from day-old onward.
(4) The feeding of milk and water from day-old onward instead of milk
only from 0-8 weeks and milk and water from 8 weeks onwards did not result
in a saving in milk over a period of 24 weeks.
Experiment 3
Though Experiments 1 and 2 demonstrated that the cereals and separated
milk gave excellent growth results, low mortality and economic food utiliza-
tion, further nutritional experiments were considered necessary with other
protein supplements, as milk is not always available at economic rates.
Experiment 3 was designed to test out the value of a vegetable protein and
salt against separated milk in the ration of chicks from day-old to 24 weeks.
Soya bean meal was selected in preference to other protein supplements, as
it is generally considered to be one of the best of the vegetable proteins.
Stock.—A total of 254 day-old chicks hatched in February, 1939, were
wing-banded and divided up into 2 comparable groups as follows :—
Breed
White Leghorn
Rhode Island Red
Desi
Total
Number of chicks
Group 5
40
34
54
128
Group 6
40
33
53
126
224
Nutritional Experiments with Chickens
Feeding.—Both the groups were fed on the basal rations used in the pre-
vious experiments. Group 5 was fed the basal ration plus separated milk to
drink from day-old to 6 weeks and separated milk and water to drink in
separate containers from 6-24 weeks. Group 6 was given water to drink from
day-old onward but the basal mash was supplemented by 18 per cent soya-
bean meal and 0.5 per cent common salt. The mash fed to Group 6, there-
fore, contained 81.5 per cent of the basal mash, 18 per cent soya bean meal
and 0 . 5 per cent salt.
Rate of growth.—Table XIV gives a statement of the average weights in
ounces of the males and females of each breed for each group at different
stages of the experiment. The cockerels, were removed from the experiment
at 10 weeks.
From 0-6 weeks both sexes of all the three breeds fed on the separated
milk ration made better weekly gains in weight than the corresponding birds
on the soya bean meal ration. At 6 weeks of age the average weights of the
White Leghorn, Rhode Island Red and desi males were 16.4, 19.9 and
11.8 oz. respectively, whilst the corresponding figures for the birds on the
soya bean ration were 11.1, 14.3 and 9.8 oz. The average weights of the
females in Group 5 were White Leghorns 15. 2 oz., Rhode Island Reds 16.7 oz.
and desis 11.4 oz., whilst in Group 6 the corresponding figures were 9.5,
11.6 and 7.5 oz.
From 6 weeks onwards the birds of Group 5 fed on separated milk and
water made better gains in weight during practically every period than the
corresponding birds on the soya bean ration. At 24 weeks the average weights
of the pullets in Group 5 were White Leghorns 56.1 oz., Rhode Island Reds
69.5 oz. and desis 46.1 oz. The corresponding figures for Group 6 were 46.6,
55.3 and 37.2 oz.
Food consumption.—Table XV gives the average food consumption per
bird for each group for each period of the experiment and the food consump-
tion in pounds per pound of live weight gain.
The food consumptions were greater in Group 5 for each period than in
the corresponding periods for Group 6. However, these figures of food con-
sumption during the periods are not directly comparable in that the birds in
Group 5 were considerably heavier than the birds in Group 6 at all periods and
thus required more food both for maintenance and growth.
In Group 5, period 1, the food consumption of 3. 57 lb. per lb. of live weight
gain was considerably lower than the corresponding figure of 4. 96 lb. for Group
6. The food utilization figures for the other periods were fairly comparable
for both groups.
Protein consumption.—Table XVI gives details of the total protein per-
centages in the food consumed by both groups during the different periods.
Group 5, whilst receiving milk only to drink, consumed 14.1 per cent
protein during period 1 and 15. 9 per cent protein during period 2B. From 6
weeks onwards, when receiving milk and water to drink, the protein consump-
tion fell to 13.1 per cent in period 2B and 12.8 per cent in period 3. The
protein consumptions during periods 4, 5 and 6 were 13.2 per cent, 14.0 per
cent and 13.8 per cent respectively.
A. J.
MACDONALD
225
TABLE XIV
Average weights in ounces for each breed
Breed
Group
Sex
Day old
1 week
2 weeks
3 „
4
„
5
„
6 „
8
„
10 „
12
„
14 „
16
„
18
„
20 „
22 „
24 „
White Leghorn
5
Male
1.49
2.8
4.4
6.2
9.1
12.5
16.4
23.3
31.4
Female
1.47
2.8
4.2
6.3
8.9
12.0
15.2
20.2
27.0
29.0
32.7
38.9
44.7
48.8
54.1
56.1
6
Male
1.48
2.1
3.3
5.1
6.8
8.6
11.1
16.2
24.0
Female
1.50
2.0
3.0
4.6
6.0
7.5
9.5
13.6
19.5
21.9
24 .6
29.7
35.4
38.7
43.1
46 .6
Rhode Island Red
5
Male
1.61
3.3
4.7
7.3
10.7
14.8
19.9
27.7
36.2
Female
1.58
2.7
4.2
6.4
9.5
12.6
16.7
22.8
29.3
32.7
36.2
43.5
51.2
56.2
63.9
69.5
6
Male
1.62
2.4
3.6
5.9
8.2
10.8
14.3
21.5
30.5
Female
1.60
2.2
3.2
5.0
6.8
9.0
11.6
17.2
23.8
26.9
30.7
36.5
43.8
47.6
51.8
55.3
Desi
5
Male
1.03
2.0
2.8
4.2
6.2
8.7
11.8
15.8
23.6
Female
1.04
2.0
2.9
4.3
6.2
8.7
11.4
15.5
20.9
23.8
27.9
33.3
38.0
40.6
44.9
46.1
6
Male
1.02
1.6
2.4
3.7
5.1
6.7
9.8
13.6
19.4
Female
1.05
1.5
2.2
3.3
4.6
5.8
7.5
11.2
16.0
17.8
20.8
25.0
29.4
32.0
36.0
37.2
226
Nutritional Experiments with Chickens
TABLE XV
Food consumption
Period
1. 0-4 weeks
2. 4-8 „
3. 8-12 „
4. 12-16 „
5. 16-20 „
6. 20-24 „
Average food consump-
tion per bird (lb.)
Group 5
1. 46
3.09
3.61
3. 53
4. 34
5.15
Group 6
1.35
2.33
2.93
2.88
3.83
4.37
Food consumption in lb.
per pound live weight
gain
Group 5
3.57
4. 10
5.18
5.41
7.03
10.74
Group 6
4.96
4.43
4.89
6.01
7.02
11.10
TABLE XVI
Protein consumption
Period
1. 0-4 weeks
2A. 4-6 „
2B. 6-8 „
3. 8-12 „
4. 12-16 „
5. 16-20 „
6. 20-24 „
Percentage of protein
Group 5
14.1
15.9
13.1
12.8
13.2
14.0
13.8
Group 6
14.5
14.4
14.8
14.4
13.9
13.3
12.9
A. J.
MACDONALD
227
The protein consumptions recorded for Group 6 varied in the different
periods according to the relative amounts of mash and grain consumed. The
protein consumption of 14. 5 per cent in period 1 was slightly lower than that
consumed by Group 5 but in period 2A the figures were reversed. During
periods 2B, 3 and 4 the protein consumptions of 14.8 per cent, 14.4 per cent
and 13.9 per cent were higher than those recorded for Group 5 but in periods
5 and 6 the percentages of protein consumed were lower than in the corres-
ponding periods for Group 5.
Mortality.—The percentage mortality from day-old to 24 weeks was 9.4
in Group 5 and 16. 7 in Group 6. The birds in Group 5 invariably looked and
handled much better than those in Group 6. During the early stages of the
experiment, the birds in Group 6 looked somewhat dejected and many had
loose feathers and drooping wings, whereas such symptoms were rare in
Group 5.
Egg production.—Table XVII gives details in regard to the age at first
egg, the percentage of birds laying and the average egg production and size
at 24 weeks for each breed in the two groups.
TABLE XVII
Egg production
Group
Breed
Age at first egg (days)
Percentage of birds laying at
24 weeks
Average number of eggs to 24
weeks
Average egg weight (oz.)
5
White
Leg-
horn
136
57.9
2.9
1.48
Rhode
Island
Red
136
20.0
3.9
1.48
Desi
131
63.6
4.8
1.25
6
White
Leg-
horn
167
7.7
0.1
1.50
Rhode
Island
Red
188
Nil
Nil
..
Desi
157
5.0
0.5
1.23
In Group 5 the first eggs were produced by the White Leghorns, Rhode
Island Reds and desis at 136, 136 and 131 days respectively. In
Group 6, the corresponding figures were 167, 188 and 157 days. In
Group 5, 57.9 per cent of the White Leghorns, 20.0 per cent of the Rhode
Island Reds and 63.6 per cent of the desis had started to lay by 24 weeks. In
Group 6, the corresponding percentages for the Leghorns, Rhode Island Reds
228
Nutritional Experiments with Chickens
and desis were 7.7, 0 and 5.0. At 24 weeks of age, the average egg produc-
tion per bird in Group 5 was 2.9 for the Leghorns, 3.9 for the Rhode Island
Reds and 4. 8 for the desis. The corresponding figures for Group 6 were 0.1,
0 and 0.5.
Conclusions.—(1) Satisfactory results were obtained by feeding chicks
on a basal ration plus separated milk only to drink from 0-6 weeks and sepa-
rated milk and water to drink from 6 weeks onwards.
(2) The basal ration plus soya bean meal and salt did not give as good
results as the basal ration plus milk from 0-6 weeks and milk and water to
drink from 6 weeks onwards.
Experiment 4
The results obtained with ground soya beans in Experiment 3, though not
so satisfactory as those obtained with separated milk, were considered suffi-
ciently encouraging to warrant further trials with ground soya beans. In
view of the fact that the early stages of growth are the most critical, both in
regard to growth and mortality, it was decided to give all the birds a good
start by feeding separated milk from 0-6 weeks. From six weeks onwards
one group was fed the standard basal ration plus separated milk and water
in separate containers and the other group on the basal ration plus ground
soya bean meal and salt.
Stock.—A total of 168 day-old chicks, hatched in March, 1939, were wing-
banded and divided into two similar groups as follows:—
Breed
White Leghorn
Rhode Island Red
Desi
Total
Number of chicks
Group 7
14
27
44
85
Group 8
15
26
42
83
Feeding.—Both the groups were fed on the standard basal ration plus
separated milk to drink during the first six weeks. From 6 weeks onwards,
Group 7 was fed the basal ration plus separated milk and water in separate
containers ; Group 8 was fed 81 . 5 per cent basal mash plus 18 per cent ground
soya bean meal plus 0.5 per cent common salt and water to drink. The
methods of feeding and management were identical with those adopted in the
previous experiments but in this instance the cockerels were removed at 8
weeks.
Growth results.—Table XVIII gives a statement of the average weights
of the cockerels and pullets of each breed at different stages from 0-24 weeks