Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-20

Hens that approach very nearly
the ideal of laying one egg day are
being developed at the poultry ex-
pertinent station of the Department
of Agriculture at Beltsville, Md.
One Leghorn in the Government
flock laid 312 eggs of good quality
last year. Another laid an even 300.
The production of the average
barnyard fowl is 70 to 80 eggs a
year. In scientifically conducted
poultry farms $50 to 100 per bird is
considered excellent.
The Government flock Is being de-
veloped on the basis of 200 eggs per
bird per year, but actually is begin
ming to exceed this high standard.
Experiments Demonstrated.
The experiments in breeding ard
feeding which have brought about
this result were demonstrated last
week to the leading poultry scientists
Of the world. who were taken on an
inspection Of the plant. About 90
British, French, Dutch and German
poultrymen came to W ashlnSton
from the meetings of the World Poul-
try Conference at Ottawa TO look
over the scientific and marketing re-
search work of the American Govern
ment in relation to poultry.
The laying experiments are con-
Quoted with Leghorns and Rhode Is
land Reds, two of the most popular
American breeds, and may eventually
bring about big increases both in the
egg production of the country and
the profits Of poultry farming. The
work is in charge of DR.. M. A. JUL,
of the Dairy Husbandry Division. The
present flock is the result of several
years Of careful breeding, in the course
of which much new light has been
thrown on some OF the hereditary
characters Of poultry, and the neces-
sity of wedding out poor layers from
any flock on which it Is expected to
make a profit
Not only has the 20O.egg.a-year
flock been developed but the hens
have been bred with the idea Of a
steady production during the Winter
months when egg prices are high. A
great increase in production, which
came during the Summer, would not
prove Of much value to the poultry
man, DIR. JUL pointed out, because the
market Is glutted anyway.
Scientists See Specimens.
The European scientists were shown
Leghorns which start to lay from $50
to 40 days after birth and Rhode
Island Reds which lay in from 176
to 200 days. The average of poultry
flocks is about $40 days. If the
earlier laying strains could be intro.
duced generally the poultryman would
be saved nearly two months Of feeding
for which he can expect no return.
One notable object of the breeding
experiment Is to get rid of the moth
erhood" instinct in hens and produce
birds which never will want to set or
brood chickens. This has been elimi-
mated entirely from the Leghorns, but
there are traces left among the Rhode
Island Reds Brooding always stops
laying and reduces profits.
So far as is known, Mr.. JUL said,
the egg-a-day ideal never has been
reached under official observation.
The nearest to this record was made
by white Leghorn in British Co.
lumbia, which laid ISL eggs in one
year and still holds the championship.
The visitors were shown expert.
ments on the value of meat and milk
In the diet Of egg-laying hens. both
for quantity and quality Of produc.
ton. The hens are fed considerabl
quantities of sour skim milk, which
contains Tactic acid, proteins and Ger.
tain minerals. The addition of milk to
the diet OF young chicks stimulates
growth up to three or four months,
and is an important factor in the
fattening process.
Mortality Rate Reduced.