Milford chronicle., 1913-08-29

farmer and producer, and only a smal
part is caused by carelessness on the
part of the buyer and shipper.
With a view to determining the causes
of the great loss in eggs, the United
States Department of Agricul ture under.
took a thorough investigation of the
problem, and its latest publication on the
subject bulletin 160, Bureau of Animal
Industry are presented the results of
experiments conducted in Kansas to de-
termne what deterioration took place
in eggs when retained under typical con
dition on the farm, in the country store.
and during transportation.
The field chosen for the work was one
where the production and marketing of
| eggs was an important factor, location
where the cooperation of several farm
ers could be secured, and town that was
far enough from IA central collecting
point so that the effect of typical trans.
pOrtation conditions could be observed.
The eggs were collected at a stated time
each day from several farms, and every
egg fertile or infertile. was supposed
to be absolutely fresh when entered in
the experiments.
The different test included keeping
eggs in dwelling house. in cyclone cave,
in nest provided for laying hens, eggs
placed under sitting hen, under cOrncrib, !
in nest in weeds or underbrush in nest !
in strawstack, and in stolen nest for |
periods varying from two to seven days. |
The tests emphasized the fact that |
infertile eggs keep better than fertile.
One third of the annual loss in eggs is due
to blood rings" A blood ring is caused |
by the development and subsequent 4
death Of the embryOO fertile egg. sub II
jected to the heat. No embryo can de
yelop in an infertile egg, no matter how
long it may be subjected to heat IN
less cooled at once and kept cool a fer
tile egg will spoil in hot weather almost
as quickly as raw milk.
Some of the loss due to 'rots" and
spots is caused by contamination in
The nest and is largely, if not entirely,
Among the results of the tests it was
'Ound that:
Eggs kept in the cyclone cave proved
much better in quality than those kept
lnder other conditions;
Taking the season as a whole, an un-
eated room in a dwelling is not con
ucive to good quality in eggs
During the hot summer months the
onditions surrounding the weed nest,
he nest in the straw. stack. or under
he corn crib, and the stolen nest, as
-ell as the keeping of eggs in the
ouse, favor the production of spots,
lood rings, and rots;
lnfertile eggs, regardless of where
ley may be kept, are much more resis-
mt to deterioration than fertile.
TWO-thirds Of the total loss i'm fertile
nd infertile eggs takes place on the
rm. The basic factors responsible
n this condition are the haphazard
ethods of poultry management ON the
rm.
The results of all the experimental
Drk point to the fact that the produc-
IN Of the infertile egg is the greatest
set in the attempt to produce high
ality market eggs during hot weather.
To assure a high quality of product
d prevent in large measure the loss
W experienced in the value of the
lntry's egg production, producers are
ged to observe the following five sim
rules:
- Give the hens clean nests
y Gather eggs at least once daily.
y Keep eggs in a cool, dry place.
a Market eggs at least once a week.
81 Kill or sell all mature male birds
as soon as the Matching season
closes.