Law; '4 .. , , .u 1: ‘0 n 0 III 1:: \«v ‘N in: .m m a w m ‘ “H I“ “I In ‘ Ill .8“ In M “I . ‘ M a. u w ' ‘ x M manna-Alum in.“ mw‘mm .n «m ni In an n n' m in an, In «“3 u m man a: v A | ‘ .1 figmmwfim ml)“ PM [5| - ---..__W - 4 .__,.<. 4 V ,_ Mn ..‘. REMOTE STORAGE 133‘: PLACE IN RETURN BOX to remove this checkout from your record. TO AVOID FINES return on or before date due. DATE DUE DATE DUE DATE DUE A STUDY OF THE HISTORY OF EGG LAYING COMPETITIONS, AND THE MEAN ANNUAL EGG PRODUCTION OF BARRED PLYMOUTH ROCK AND SINGLE COMB WHITE LEGHDRN PULLETS COMPETING IN THE INTERNATIONAL EGG LAYING CONTEST AT MICHIGAN STATE COLLEGE. 1931-1955. A STUDY OF THE HISTORY OF EGG LAYING COMPETITIONS, AND THE MEAN ANNUAL EGG PRODUCTION OF EARRED PLYMOUTH ROCK AND SINGLE COMB WHITE LEGHORN PULLETS COMPETING IN THE INTERNATIONAL EGG LAXING CONTEST AT MICHIGAN STATE COLIIGE. 1951-1955. BY Edmund Stanley_Bu£§§ A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate School of Michigan State College of Agriculture end Applied Science in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Department of Poultry Husbendry 1939 {HESIS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I wish to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to Professor 0. G. Card, Hbad of the Poultry Department, and Supervisor of the Michigan International Egg Laying Contest, under whose direc- tion and guidance this study was made. I wish also to thank Dr. W. D. Baten of the Mathematics Depart- ment for his helpful assistance throughout the work. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Introduction .................................................. 1-5 The Purpose and Scope of this Study 4 Terminology ................................................... 4-5 Review of Similar Studies...................................... 6-8 Technique of Analysis ......................................... 9 History of Egg Laying Competition ............................. 10-11 International Laying Contest .................................. 12 National Laying Contest ....................................... 12 Michigan International Laying Contest ........................ 13 History .................................................. 13 Description of Houses..................................... 14 Ration and Method of Feeding ............................. 14 Broodiness ............................................... 14 Mortality ............................................... 15 Sources of Material on Barred Plymouth Rocks .................. 16 Location of Contestants................................... l6 variation in First Year Annual Egg Production ............ 18 variation in Annual Egg Points ........................... 19 Mean Annual Egg Production ............................... 20 Mean Annual Egg Points .................................. 22 Analysis of these Data ................................... 22-23 Sources of Material on Single Comb White Leghorns ............. 24 Location Of contestants OOOOCOOOCOOOOOOOOO...COCOICOOOO... 24-25 variation in First Year Annual Egg Production .............. ‘Variation in.Annua1 Egg Points ............................. lean Annual Egg Production ................................. Sloan Annual Egg Points ..................................... General Trend in Egg Production and Egg Points Over a Five Year Period ..................................................... Summary and Conclusions ......................................... Literature Cited ................................................ Appendix ........................................................ Picture COCOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO00......000000 Scatter Diagrams ........................................... Page 26 27 28 50 32 34 38 4O 41 Tables: 1 10 11 LIST OF TABLES U..........I..OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOIOCOOCQOOIOOOOOOO00.....0... Geographical Distribution of Contestants according to States, Showing the Number of Barred Plymouth Rock Pull- Page 16 ets Entered at the Michigan Egg Laying Contest over a Five Year period, 1931-1935. 0..0.......00...OOOOODOOIOOOOOOOOOOOIOOOOOOIOOIOOOQOOOOOO Frequency Distribution of Barred Plymouth.Rock Pullets on the Basis of Annual Egg Production, 1931-1935. 0.00.00.09.00...D.OOODOOOOOOOOOOOOQDOOO00.9.0.0...9..’90. Frequency Distribution of Barred Plymouth Rock Pullets on the Basis of Annual Egg Points, 1931-1935. .OOCOOCOOOOOODOO0.0.0.0...DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOODO0.00.0.0... The Mean Annual Egg Production for Barred Plymouth Rock Pullets, 1931-1935. The Mean Annual Egg Points for Barred Plymouth Rock Pullets, l931-l935. GeOgraphical Distribution of Contestants According to States, Showing the Number of Single Comb White Leg- horn Pullets Entered at the Michigan Egg Laying Con- test over a Five Year Period, 1931-1935. Frequency Distribution of Single Comb White Leghorn Pullets on the Basis of Annual Egg Production, 1931- 1935. Frequency Distribution of Single Comb White Leghorn Pullets on the Basis of Annual Egg Points, 1931-1935. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOQOOO0.00.0000...O'OOOOOOOOOOOODOO0.0.. The Mean Annual Egg Production for Single Comb White Leghorn Pullets, 1931-1935. .00...OOOOOOOOOOOQOOOOQOO’.0.0.9....DOOOOOIOOOOOOOOOOOOQ The Mean Annual Egg Points for Single Comb White Leg- horn pullets, 1931-1935. OO‘OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOODOOODOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO..O....OO The Five Year Mean Egg Production and Egg Points for Single Comb White Leghorns and Barred Plymouth Rock Pullets, 1931-1935. 18 19 20 22 26 27 28 30 32 INTRODUCTION The breeds of fouls selected for this study (Barred Plymouth Rocks and Single Comb White Leghorns) are those with which the writer has worked over a period of twelve years while serving as a teacher, in charge of the poultry work at Southern university and A. &:M. College, Louisiana. This study has been conducted by the writer because of his keen in- terest in record keeping as well as a desire to ascertain a knowledge of the relation (if any) between the mean annual egg production and egg points of the two breeds of fowls. The primary data for this study were obtained by summarizing the first year's record of 603 Barred Plymouth.Rock pullets and 2,662 Single Comb White Leghorn pullets entered at the Michigan International Egg Lay- ing Contest over a period of five years, 1931 to 1935. These data were obtained by the writer from the records on file in the office of the Supervisor1 of the Michigan Egg Laying Contest. SOURCE OF BIRDS: The pullets whose records are included in this summary and analysis have been bred and entered by a large number of individual 2 poultrymen in the United States and Ontario, Canada. 1 Card, C. G., Head, Poultry Department, Michigan State College. 2 The states are as follows: California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, washington, Wisconsin, Connecticut, and Ontario, Canada. RECORDS: The raw data which the writer has used in this summary consist of the individual daily egg records of two major breeds (Barred Plymouth Rocks and Single Comb White Leghorn) over afperiod of five years, 1931 to 1935. These records are recorded at the Contest Houses by the attendants who trap nest the birds each hour in the day from 7 a. m. to 5 p. m. At each trapping the number of the pen and the number of the leg band are written on the egg. The time of the trapping is written on a time sheet that is kept in each pen for this purpose. At the end of the day, the eggs are rechecked, weighed, and given a score in terms of points based on their weight. These points are recorded on a permanent weight sheet in duplicate form along side the number of the bird. Once per month the weight sheets are rechecked with time sheets to detect any error that may have been made. After these sheets have been carefully-checked, they are sent to the office of the Supervisor to be compiled. The original weight sheets are kept on file in the Supervisor's office and the duplicate is sent to the contestant. The secondary data were secured from the following sources: 1, Studies from the Storr‘s 3 Agricultural Experiment Station, Storrs, I Connecticut. 1911-1919. 2 Poultry Project Bulletins 4, Poultry Department, Michigan State College, East Lansing, Michigan. 1931-1936. 3 United States Department Year Book No. 15655 4 Studies from the Rhode Island Agricultural Experiment Station, Kings- ton, Rhode Island. 1929? Includes studies made by Dunn, L. 0., Wm. F. Kirkpatrick and L.E.Card. Card, C. G. Jull, MorleyA Waters, Nelson F. and John C. Weldin. 0301th American Poultry Record, Sellerville, Pennsylvania. 19307. Studies from the Maine8 Agricultural Experiment Station, Orono, 9 Studies from the Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, Canada. 1938 . Rearl, Raymond and Frank M. Surface. 5 6. Maine. 1907-1908. 7 7 Weisner, E. S. 8 9 Bird, S. and J. W. Sinclair. THE PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF THIS STUDY The primary purposes of this study are to summarize the first year egg records made by Barred Plymouth Rocks and Single Comb White Leghorns entered at the Michigan International Egg Laying Contest at the Michigan State College, 1931-1935, and to stimulate more interest in poultry record keeping among poultrymen as a means of increasing the general level of egg production in domestic fowl. The ScOpe of the Study Includes: 1- A history of egg laying competition. 2- A description of the operation and management of the Michigan International Egg Laying Contest. 3- Geographical distribution of bird and contestant by states and producers. 4- Analysis of records studied based on the annual egg production and egg points of two major breeds of fowl (Barred Rocks and Single Comb White Leghorn) laying more than 10010 eggs during their pullet year over a five year period, 1931-1935. 5- The general trend of egg production and egg points over a period of five years. Terminology: Some terms employed in this study are defined as follows: 10 The method used in this study is essentially the same as employed by Harper Adams Agricultural College, Newport, SolOp, England with Rhode Island Reds. These contests were conducted as follows: 1912-13 (52 weeks) 1918-19 (52 weeks) 1919-21 (48 weeks) y Egg laying competitions are contests conducted under some set rules and regulations for a certain period.where several poultrymen send entries of birds. First year egg records are those records made during the first 51 weeks after the birds are placed in the laying house. The point system is a.method used by poultrymen to score the egg by assigning to each egg a standard number of points in terms of ounces according to its weight. Following is a mhedule of points used at the Michigan Inter- national Egg Laying Contest during the five year period 1931-35. 19 ounces 0.75 points 20 ounces 0.80 points 21 ounces 0.85 points 22 ounces 0.90 points 23 ounces 0.95 points 24 ounces 1.00 points 25 ounces 1.05 points 26 ounces 1.10 points Breed is a term used by poultrymen to denote body shape for the purpose of classification. Broodiness is a term used by poultrymen to describe those birds that want to set. Brood 000p is a special coop where broody hens are confined. Contestant is a term applied to any person who enters his bird in a competition. The contest period starts October lst and continues for a period of 51 weeks. That is, the 1931 contest started October 1, 1931 and ended September 22, 1932, etc. Review of Similar Studiest The following studies have been reviewed in the preparation of this study: A... B... .A statistical study of egg production in four breeds of the do- mestic fowl. .Part 1, Egg Production in Wyandottes; Part 11, Egg Production in Rhode Island Reds; Part III, Egg Production in Plymouth.Rocks. The Relationship Between the Number and Weight of Eggs and Body weight of Leghorn Fowl during the First Three Years of Production. 0n the Validity of Progeny Tests of Sires Obtained on Culled Pap- ulations of Daughters. In reviewing these studies, the writer found that Dunn (1924) made the following observations: 1. 4. 5. That individual egg production is a highly variable character. The average egg production showed an increase over the nine year period studied (1911 to 1919). The percentage of high producers (birds laying 210 eggs and over) increased slightly while the percentage of low producers (birds laying 104 eggs and under) decreased slightly during the same nine year period. ”The correlations for the different years in the mean annual egg weights were highly significant in all cases, showing that the weight of eggs laid by a bird is a relatively stable character, persisting from year to year." ”There was no correlation between the number of eggs laid by a bird and the mean weight of the eggs. A bird which lays a large number of eggs is as likely to lay large eggs as small ones." Studies made by Bird and Sinclair (1938). ”Under the scheme for progeny testing of sires presented in a series of papers by Munro and his associates (1, 2, 3, 4) it is stipulated as a working condition that the progeny flock serving as test material must be maintained strictly unculled through the laying year." ”Exception has been taken to this rule on the grounds that it is an economically unsound practice to carry obviously worthless or pathological specimens through a full year. Furthermore, there is the important theoretical consideration whether such low producing birds do prOperly belong in the distributions. If it is true that they, in many cases, do not adequately express the low values of pertinent variate means should be found for their theoretical elimination.” "Considering this problem, it was assumed as a working hypothesis, that culling is in the main performed for the purpose of eliminat- ing poor producers. Culling, therefore, will delete some area of low values, smaller or larger as the case may be, under any dis- tribution curve. The remaining truncated portion of such a curve twill consequently show a higher numerical value of the arithmetic mean and a smaller sampling error. The problem then is to show under what conditions the means and sampling errors exhibited by the culling population may be utilized, either directly or indi- rectly, to express approximately the same relationship as would have existed between the same population incase these had remained in the unculled state to the end of the laying year." 10. 11. "For this purpose, Bird and Sinclair selected three populations A, B and C, consisting of 127, 127 and 97 birds respectively and made a distribution for each. From these distributions they arbi- trarily culled various percentages of birds, ranging from zero per cent to 44 per cent, in every case involving only the lowest pro- ducers. The new means thus obtained were then compared to their respective original known means and to one another." ”These data clearly demonstrate that the means of the truncated distribution retain the interrelationship of the original means to a higher degree than do the recalculated means." "An interesting point is brought out by a further analysis of dis- tribution C. Normal curves were fitted to the original data and the same truncated at the 25 per cent level, that is, at the 170 egg ordinate. I? for the former gives P‘40.01 and for the latter P : 0.20, the difference being mainly brought about by the elimi- nation of irregular low tail." "Such low tail formations are rather a common occurrence in egg production curves, and it is questionable whether they do actually belong in normal phenotypic distributions or whether they are com- posed largely of more or less pathologic specimens. It would, therefore, seem that culling 15 to 25 per cent of a population would conveniently solve this problem.“ TECHNIQUE 0F ANAEYSIS The data will be treated statistically since the principle problem is to study the annual egg production and egg points of two major breeds of fowl (Barred Plymouth.Rocks and Single Gomb‘White‘Leghorns) over a period of five years, 1931-1935. For convenience in statistical treatment and presentation, the material to be treated was arranged in such a manner as to ShOW’thB fecundity of in- dividual birds and number belonging to each class. Due to the wide variation in annual egg production and egg points: egg production, Barred Rocks, 100 to 324; egg points, 100-324; Single Comb White Leghorns, eggs 100-324; egg points, 100-324; some form of grouping had to be adapted. The writer has therefore adOpted a class range of 25 eggs and egg points, i. 3., 100-124, 125-149, etc. Group expressions used: the mean or average; the standard deviation; and the coefficient of variation. The standard deviation has been worked out and added to each constant since it gauges the statistical reliability to be placed on each contestant, especially where constants are to be compared. The arithmetical Operations have been performed on the Merchant calculating machine by Mr. J. I. Nbrtham.of the mathematical Department. The writer, however, is responsible for all conclusions drawn. 10 THE HISTORY OF EGG LAYING COMPETITIONS According to mm. In Kirkpatrick11 and Leslie E. Card (1915), the Poultry Club of England was the pioneer in holding poultry laying con- tests. Up to the year 1912, the club held competitions of short duration (six, twelve, and sixteen weeks), which were conducted during the winter months. In 1905 the Utility Poultry Club Opened negotiations with the College (Harper Adams Agricultural College, NeWport, Solop, England) for holding an extended competition, but because of the expense involved in providing the necessary plant and equipment, it was found impossible to pro- ceed with the trial. In 1911 the Utility Poultry Club again approached the College and a plan was drawn and submitted to the Board of Agriculture for the holding of an elaborate trial consisting of one hundred pens. In 1912 a grant was made to the College for the erection of suitable pens on the College farm. Mr. A. A. Dunnicliff (1901) claims to have been the first to conceive the idea of a twelve months' contest. It appears that a newspaper contro- versy had arisen in the columns of the Sydney Daily Telegraph regarding the particular merits of a certain heavy breed as winter layers. This discus- sion continued until finally Mr. A. E. Henry issued a challenge to the ef- fect that he would put a pen of Silver Wyandottes to a test against the hens of Mr. H. E. Kelly who had maintained that Buff Orpingtons were the champion layers. During the controversy many poultrymen and others became interested. Mr. Dunnicliff suggested in asmuch as the public had become interested in the contest, a trial conducted in a reliable and impartial way would serve a 11 Storrs' Agricultural Experiment Station, Storrs, Connecticut. more useful purpose if open to all poultrymen. This suggestion met with approval as evidenced by the fact that within a week after its announce- ment in the Daily Telegraph on August 17, 1901, forty breeders had offered to enter fifty-seven pens. The next step was to find ways and means of Operating the contest. G. Velder, Principal of the Hawkesbury Agricultural College at Richmond, New South Wales, secured permission from the Honorable John Kidd, Minister of Agriculture, to erect suitable buildings for the contest. "Thus the first twelve months laying contest was staged at the Hawkesbury Agricultural College and was conducted under its immediate supervision. This competition was started at the Hawkesbury Agricultural College April 1, 1902 and ended March 51, 1903. The Daily Telegraph assumed the responsibility of securing entries. The first breeder to enter the contest was James E. Pennell of Randrick and the birds he believed in were the Buff Wyandottes." Mr. James E. Pennell presided over the first management committee at Sydney, September 25, 1901. The duties of this committee were to draw up rules and regulations to govern the contest. Many of the rules governing this contest have been adopted by other laying contests, including Ans- tralis, England, South Africa, British Columbia and America. 12 INTERNATIONAL LAXING CONTEST The idea of the first International Egg Laying Contest apparently originated in the office of the North America Daily Newspaper published in Philadelphia which sought to win the confidence of the poultry public through its daily columns. Through this medium, the idea was brought to the attention of those in charge of the poultry work at Storrs' Agricul- tural Experiment Station, and through them to the President of the Con- necticut Agricultural College, Storrs, Connecticut, who presented the question of the contest to the Board of Trustees. Upon their approval, plans were perfected for the First International Egg Laying Contest in America which was inaugurated November 1, 1911 and ended October 51, 1912. NATIONAL LAYING CONTEST The first National Laying Contest was inaugurated and conducted by the Missouri State Experiment Station at Mountain Grove, Missouri almost simultaneously with the International Contest at Storrs, Connecticut. Shortly after this contest, many other laying contests were held through- out America on a national scale. 15 MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL LAYING CONTEST HISTORY: According to Dr. E. S. Weisner and Professor C. G. Cardla, t he idea of the Michigan International Laying Contest originated with Pro- fessor C. Ma Ferguson of Ohio State Agricultural College, who was at athat time Assistant Professor of Poultry Husbandry at Michigan State College. The idea was approved by the State College Board of Agriculture which ap- propriated sufficient funds for the project during the summer of 1922. Professor Ferguson was placed in charge of the contest. The laying out of the plant and the construction of the buildings were under his super— vision. The plant consisted of an administration building that provided for an office, egg weighing and candling rooms, living quarters for the con- test employees, a feed storage, a general storage building, and ten lay- ing houses. Entries in the first Michigan International Egg Laying contest con- sisted of twelve birds, two of which were designated reserves. Replace- ments were allowed throughout the year to keep the number up to ten. Many contestants sent to the contest sufficient replacement to make twice the original entry. This first egg laying contest of 52 weeks was won by Mr. Elmer Shaw of South Haven, Michigan, with a total of 2,125 eggs. The average egg production for the first contest was 156.4 eggs. 12 Weisner, Dr. E. S. and Professor C. G. Card, Poultry Department, Michigan State College of Agriculture and Applied Science, East Lansing, Michigan. 14 Description of Houses: The contest houses are even span roof type with straw loft. Each house is 10 feet by 60 feet, and is divided into 10 pens 6 feet by 10 feet. The floors are made of cement and are covered with straw. The pens are ventilated from the front and from the loft. Each door has an opening 23 inches square covered with one-half inch hardware cloth. There is also a dr0p window 20% inches by 33 inches. Each pen has an Opening in the back 12 inches square that Opens into a yard 12 feet by 50 feet. These yards furnish some green feed in addition to allow- ing the birds free range during the summer months. Egtion and Method of Feedingi, Dry mash is fed in small metal hOppers on a platform 12 inches from the floor. A piece of mesh.wire is placed on the mash to prevent waste. The water fountains are placed on the same plat- form close by the mash happers. The birds are allowed free access to grit and oyster shell. The grain is fed on the floor between 4:30 and 5:00 p. m. Semi-solid buttermilk and wet mash are fed at regular intervals during the day. Winter feeding differs somewhat from summer feeding. The amount of grain is increased to keep up the bird's body weight, and fed morning and evening. The per cent of cod liver oil is increased in the mash and sprouted oats are also fed as a succulent feed. Broodiness: Broodiness is a desire on the part of a hen to set. This desire usually occurs more often with heavy breeds than with light breeds. Birds that become broody during the contest are removed to a broody 000p in the basement of the administration building, fed and watered daily. When broodiness ceases the birds are returned to their pens. 15 mortality: When a bird shows signs of illness, she is placed in a special hospital coop for observation. Should the bird get well, she is returned to her pen. If the bird dies, the carcass is sent to the College Bacteriological Laboratory, the disease diagnosed, and the con— testant notified as to the cause of the bird's death. TABLE I Geographical Distribution of Contestants According to States Showing the Number of Barred Plymouth Pullets Entered at the Michigan Egg Laying Contest over a Five Year Period, 1931-35 States Contestants Birds Entered Connecticut 4 52 Indiana 2 26 Michigan 46 598 Mississippi 1 l3 *Ontsrio 7 91 Pennsylvania 1 13 Total 61 793 Table I includes the total number of birds each con- testant Submitted to the contest by states. *Canadian Province. 17 There are five states and one province included in this study. These states, because of their wide distribution, may be representative of the section in which they are located and should bring to the contest a fair sample of the type of birds that are grown for egg production in their re- spective sections. or the 793 birds that entered the contest during the period of this study, the records of 603 were chosen for study; the other 190 or 23 per cent died during their pullet year or were disqualified. Bird and Sinclair in their studies at the Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa, Canada (1938) concluded that birds may be culled up to 25 per cent Without introducing an error in the mean, sufficiently large to be im- pcrtant. TABLE II Frequency Distribution of Barred Plymouth Rock Pullets on the Basis of Annual Egg Production. 1931-1935 Column Col. Col. Col. Col. Col. Col. Numbers 1 2 3 4 5 6 Eggs Laid 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1931-35 100-124 6 2 4 2 8 22 125-149 17 19 6 15 10 67 150-174 18 32 7 5 17 79 175-199 29 36 16 15 28 124 200-224 39 42 18 17 24 140 225-249 19 17 17 19 20 92 250-274 9 8 12 12 16 57 275-299 1 4 6 2 3 16 300-324 2 0 2 l 1 6 TOTAL 140 160 88 88 127 603 Table II is a condensation of data grouped, for convenience, into '25 egg classes. It is to be read as follows: (Column 1) In 1931, six pullets laid between 100 and 124 eggs, inclusive; seventeen pullets laid between 125 and 149 eggs, inclusive, etc. Table II, the total frequency distribution for all five years in- dicates that 140, or 23 per cent of all birds laid between 200 and 224 eggs inclusive with only 22 birds laying less than 125 eggs. One hundred and seventy-one or 28.4 per cent of all birds laid more than 224 eggs. TABLE III 19 Frequency Distribution of Barred Plymouth.Rock Pullets on the Basis of Annual Egg Point. 1931-1935. Column Col. Col. Col. 001. C01. 001. Numbers 1 2 3 4 _§L__ 6 Egg Points#- 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1931-35 99.005-124.005 8 10 3 4 8 33 124.005-149.005 14 22 8 7 8 59 149.005-174.005 17 28 7 14 20 86 174.005-199.005 30 36 11 7 16 100 199.005-224.005 33 4O 20 21 28 142 224.005-249.005 23 16 21 17 21 98 249.005-274.005 8 7 10 13 19 57 274.005-299.005 4 O 8 4 7 23 299.005-324.CO5 3 1 O 1 0 5 TOTAL 140 160 88 88 127 603 Table III is read as follows: (Column 1) In 1931, eight birds produced eggs that averaged between 100 and 124 points inclusive; fourteen birds pro- duced eggs that averaged between 125 and 149 points, inclusive, etc. The total frequency distribution in Table III, Column 6, shows that 23 per cent, or 142 individuals, produced eggs that averaged between 200 and 224 points, inclusive, or an average of 212, or one point. Thirty-three hens produced more than 100 points and 28 produced between 275 and 324 points, in- elusive. duced eggs that averaged better than 224 points. One hundred and eighty-six or 30.8 per cent of all individuals pro- TABLE IV The lean Annual Egg Production for Barred Plymouth Rock Pallets. 1931-1935. Year number _ lean Standard Coefficient Deviation of variation 1931 140 195.57 2 5.45 40.86 ‘1' 2.44 20.89 1932 150 195.25 1' 2.92 55.91 t 2.06 19.10 1953 88 212.85 2 4.97 46.59 t 5.51 21.39 1954 as 204.90 '5 4.83 45.27 1' 5.41 22.09 1955 127 200.39 1' 3.95 44.54 t 2.79 22.22 1951-35 603 _ 199.85? 1.74 42.74t 1.23 21.59 Table IV shows that the average egg production of Barred Rocks for the five year period was high. The averages were between 193.25 in 1932 and 212.85 in 1933. The average for all five years was 199.85. The possible reason for this high average may be due in part to the elimination of low producing fowls, i. 6., those laying less than 100 eggs, leaving a rather homogeneous high producing group. The ranges for 1931, 1933, 1934 and 1935 distributions were about 224 eggs, which show a considerable variability for these years. The range for the 1932 distribution was 199 eggs. In all five cases more than 90 per cent were within 2 standard deviations of the means. In some cases more than 96 per cent were within 2 standard deviations of the means. The yearly variability as measured by its standard deviation may be 21 15 in birds is a highly variable quality. due to the fact that fecundit The coefficients of variations were about the same for all five years with the exception of 1932. The averages show that the pullets did not function the same as to egg production from year to year. The pullets in 1933 far surpassed those for the other years. This may be due in part to the type of birds selected and sent to the contest in 1933. 13 Pearl, R., and F. M. Surface, 1909-1910. A Biometrical Study of Egg Production in Domestic Fowl. U. S. D. A. Bureau Animal In- dustry Bulletin 110, Parts 1 and 2. .22 TABLE V The Mean Annual Egg Points for Barred Plymouth Rock Pullets. 1931-1935 Year Number Mean Standard Coefficient Deviation of variation 1951 140 198.11t 5.74 44.28t 2.65 22.55 1952 160 185.88 1- 3.06 58.76 t 2.17 20.85 1955 88 212.64 t 4.79 44.95 4.- 5.59 21.14 1954 88 207.81 4.- 4.75 46.29 t 5.49 22.28 1955 127 205.21 1' 4.12 46.39 t 2.91 22.61 1951-55 603 199.90 1: 1.82 44.79 .7 1.29 22.41 Table V shows that the yearly averages fluctuated for egg points more than the averages for egg production. The averages for egg points and egg production were lower in 1932 than the other corresponding averages. In 1933 these averages were high. The five year average for egg points was 199.90. The standard deviations show considerable variation in ppints scored on eggs from year to year. The standard deviations and coefficients of variation were about the same for all five years. The variations for the egg point distributions were more alike than those pertaining to egg production. Tables IV and V show that the means for egg points were about the same as those for egg production. This would suggest that there was a definite relation between the number of eggs laid and the number of points scored for these eggs. 23 Pearson14 linear correlation coefficient was computed between the number of eggs laid and the number of points scored for 64 Barred Rock pull- ets chosen at random for the year 1953 and was found to be: NP : .952. N" number of eggs and P = number of points scored. The very high coefficient shows that the number of eggs laid was defi- nitely associated with the number of points scored. The great variability in egg production for each year indicates that here again appears a general characteristic of fecundity as Pearls and Surface15 noted about physiological characters in general. These investi- gators found that egg production, milk, and fertility in all animals are more variable than morphological characters such as egg sizes and egg weight. 14 Pearson Linear Correlation Coefficient. Baten, W. D., Elementary Mathematical Statistics. John Wiley & Son, Inc., New York. 15 Ibid. 24 TABLE VI Geographical Distribution of Contestants According to States Showing the Number of Single Comb White Leghorn Pullets Entered at the Michigan Egg Laying Contest over Five Year Period, 1931-1935. States Contestants Birds Entered California 5 65 Illinois 3 39 Indiana 9 117 Iowa 2 26 Kansas 3 39 Kentucky 4 52 Minnesota 2 26 Michigan 158 2,064 Mississippi 1 13 Missouri 4 52 New Jersey 8 104 New York 4 52 Ohio 27 351 *Ontario 1 13 Oregon 3 39 Pennsylvania 3 39 Washington 8 104 Wisconsin 6 78 Total 251 3,273 Table VI shows the total number of birds each contestant submitted to the contest by states. *Canadian Province. 25 The birds whose records have contributed to this study came from seventeen states and one province of Canada. These states are widely distributed throughout the major poultry sections of the United States and should represent to a fair degree the type of poultry that is grown for egg production in these respective sections. 0f the 3,273 birds that were entered in the contest, the records of only 2,662 were included in this study. The other remaining 611 or 18 per cent represent those that were disqualified or died. 26 TABLE VII Frequency Distribution of Single Comb White Leghorn Pullets on the Basis of Annual Egg Production 1931-1935 Column Col. 001. 001. 001. Col. Col. Khmer-7 1 _..2._.. .9... .14... _2__ .9. Eggs Laid 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1931-35 100-124 11 10 17 12 20 70 125-149 37 19 35 34 35 160 150-174 51 59 51 46 39 246 175-199 126 109 53 52 51 391 200-224 164 168 81 79 70 562 225-249 160 194 107 97 80 638 250-274 102 127 53 63’ 52 397 275-299 29 39 28 40 19 155 300-324 9 15 ll 4 4 43 TOTAL 689 740 436 427 370 2,662 Table VII is a condensation of data grouped, for convenience, into 25 egg classes. It is to be read as follows: (Column 1) In 1931, eleven birds laid between 100 and 124 eggs, inclusive; 37 birds laid between 125 and 149 eggs, inclusive, etc. The total frequency distribution in Table VII, Column 6, shows that for all five years' records studied, 562 or 21 per cent of the birds laid between 200 and 324 eggs, inclusive; only 70 birds laid less than 125 eggs; 198 birds laid between 275 and 325 eggs, inclusive; 1,233 or 45 per cent of all birds laid more than 200 eggs. 27 TABLE’VIII Frequency Distribution of Single Comb'White Leghorn Pullets on the Basis of Annual Egg Points' 1931-1935 Column 001. 001. 001. 001. Col. 001. Numbers 1 2 _§L__ _£L__ _§L__ _J;__ Egg Points 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1931-35 99.005-124.005 15 5 18 15 13 66 124.005-149.005 34 32 39 38 28 171 149.005-174.005 66 52 43 35 33 229 174.005-199.005 112 126 55 51 46 390 199.005-224.005 167 161 75 69 71 543 224.005-249.005 150 199 106 80 67 602 249.005-274.005 100 107 61 82 61 411 274.005-299.005 36 47 29 44 36 192 299.005-324.005 9 11 10 13 15 58 TOTAL 689 740 436 427 370 2,662‘fi_ Table VIII is to read as follows: (Colimn 1) In 1931, fifteen birds produced eggs that averaged between 100 and 124 points, inclusive; thirty- four birds produced eggs that averaged between 125 and 149 points, inclusive, etc. The total frequency distribution in Table VIII, Column 6, shows that 21 per cent, or 562 individuals produced eggs that averaged between 200 and 224 points, inclusive, an average of 212 or one point. Sixty-six birds produced eggs that averaged more than 100 points. Two hundred and fifty-two birds produced eggs that averaged between 275 and 324 points, inclusive. One thousand and two hundred and sixty-three or 47 per cent of all individ- uals studied produced eggs that averaged better than one point. 28 TABLE II The Mean Annual Egg Production for Single Comb White Leghorn Pullets 1951-1955 Year Number Mean Standard Coefficient Deviation of variation 1951 689 215.77 t 1.51 59.72 t 1.07 18.41 1952 740 222.17 t 1.45 58.85 t 1.01 17.48 1955 456 212.75 t 2.26 47.20 t 1.60 22.19 1954 427 215.81 t 2.24 46.25 t 1.58 21.45 1955 570 208.15 t 2.46 47.52 t 1.74 22.75 1951-54 2,662 216.00 t .84 45.22 t .59 20.01 The mean values in Table IX show that on an average the annual egg production of Single Comb White Leghorns was rather high throughout the five year period. All yearly averages were greater than 208 eggs. In 1932 the highest average was 222.17 eggs. The five year average was 216 eggs. This high mean or average may be due in part to the elimination of all birds laying less than 100 eggs, leaving a more homogenous group of high producers. The difference between the greatest and least yearly averages was 19.60 eggs for Leghorns while the difference between the lowest and the highest yearly averages for Barred Rocks was 14.6 eggs. The yearly variations were lowest in 1931 and 1932 and highest in the last three contests. r— -1- .. Egg production when measured in terms of the yearly standard devi- ations showed high variability, from approximately 39 eggs in 1932 to 47 in 1935. Dunn16 noted that egg production in fowls, in spite of attempted selection, is extremely variable under identical conditions of a single year. 16 Dunn, L. G., A Statistical Study of Egg Production in Four Breeds of the Domestic Fowl, Part II. Egg Production in R. 1. Beds. Storrs Agr. Exp. Station, Bulletin 118. TABLEIX' The Mean Egg Points for Single Comb White Leghorn Pullets 1931 - 1935 Year Number lean Standard Coefficient of Deviation variation 1931 689 214.70 t 1.57 41.13 t 1.11 19.15 1932 740 220.02 1’ 1.43 38.78 i- 1.01 17.53 1933 435 212.94 1*. 2.29 47.88 1' 1.62 22.49 1954 427 219.29 1* 2.42 50.06 :- 1.71 22.83 1935 370 218.87 1: 2.57 49.49 :- 1.82 22.51 1931-35 2,662 217.21 T. 0.86 44.52 t 0.51 20.50 Table X shows that all averages for egg points were high and did not vary as much as the averages for egg production in table IX. The mean egg point for the five year period was 217.21. The varabilities were high, running from 38.78 in 1932 to 50.06 in 1934. This variability of 11.28 points in 1934 is not easily explained since Pearivand Surface noted in their studies that egg weights in birds are not a highly variable characteristic when the coefficients of vari- ation of egg production in table IX are compared with the coefficients of 17 Pearl, R., and F. M. Surface. Loc. Cit. 31 variation of egg points in table I for the same fouls, it appears that egg points are about as variable a characteristic in fowls as egg pro- duction, if this sample can be taken as a true criterion. The coefficients of variation were smaller for egg points in 1951 and 1932 than for the other three years. TABLE II The Five Year MeanEgg Production and Egg Points for Single Comb White Leghorns and Barred Plymouth Rock Pullets 1931 ~ 1935 Barred Rock Pullets Single Comb White Leghorn Pallets Egg production 199.85 Egg production 216.00 Egg points 199.90 Egg points 217.21 Table XI is a comparison between the five year average of egg pro- duction and egg points for Barred Rocks and Single Comb White Leghorn pullets entered at the Michigan Egg Laying Contest from 1951 - 1955. This table shows that the average egg production for 1931 - 1955 for Leghorns was significantly higher than the average egg production for Rocks during this same period. The corresponding yearly averages were Significantly higher for Leghorns than for Rocks with the exception of 1933 when the averages were about the same. These data would suggest that the Leghorns out- laid the Rocks during the contests. The average egg points scored by the Leghorns for the five year period were significantly higher than those for the Rocks. The yearly averages were significantly higher for the Leghorns than those respec- tive averages pertaining to Rocks with the exception of those egg points 32 53 for 1935. These data would indicate that Leghorns not only laid more eggs than Rocks during these contests but produced eggs with a higher average score. The correlation coefficient between the number of eggs laid and points scored was computed for 64 Single Comb Leghorn pallets chosen at random during 1933 and was found to be: rnp = .962. N = number of eggs produced and P = number of points scored. 34 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS This study presents an analysis of the first year's egg record of two chief breeds of birds (Barred Plymouth Rocks and Single Comb White Leghorns) entered at the Michigan International Egg Laying Contest over a period of five years, 1931 to 1955. Early egg laying competitions have been included to acquaint the reader with their history and development. These competitions were large- ly responsible for many of the rules governing our present competitions. The first international egg laying contest was conducted at the Storrs Agricultural Experiment Station, Storrs, Connecticut, November 1, 1911 and ended October 51, 1912. The first national egg laying contest was conducted by the Missouri Experiment Station, Mountain Grove, Missouri, almost simultaneously with the International Egg Laying Contest at Storrs Agricultural Experiment Station, Storrs, Connecticut. The Michigan International Egg Laying Contest was approved by the State Board of Agriculture in 1922. The laying out of the plant and the construction of suitable build- ings for the contest were under the supervision of Professor C. M. Fergu- son, who was Professor of Poultry Husbandry at Michigan State College. Entries in Michigan's first egg laying competition consisted of 12 birds, two of which were designated reserves. Mr. Elmer Shaw of South Haven, Michigan, won the highest score for this contest with a total of 2,125 eggs. The average egg production for this contest was 156.5 eggs. Methods of Feedigg Caring for broody hens and checking on mortality at the Michigan Contest are matters of routine that the management have worked out to the best interest of the contest details of which have been discussed fully under separate heading. The 3,262 fowl (Barred Plymouth Rocks and Single Comb White Leghorns) whose records have contributed to this study came from 18 states and the Province of Ontario. These states are as follows: California, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington, Wisconsin and Connecticut. Because of the wide distribution of these 18 states, it would appear that they should bring to the Michigan International Egg Laying Contest a fair sample of the type of fowl that are grown for egg production in the United States. Of the total number of pullets whose records have contrib- uted to this study, 603 were Barred Plymouth Rocks; the other 2,662 were Single Comb White Leghorns. The frequency distribution of the Barred Rock pullets, based on the annual egg production and egg points, 23 per cent laid between 200 and 224 eggs inclusive, that averaged one egg point. Twenty-eight and four tenths per cent laid more than 224 eggs and 30.8 per cent laid eggs that averaged one point plus. The frequency distribution of the Single Comb White Leghorn pullets, based on the annual egg production and egg points, indicates that 21 per cent of these fowl laid between 200 and 224 eggs inclusive, with an average of one point. Forty-five per cent laid eggs that averaged above one point. 56 Table IV showed that average egg production for Barred Rock pallets during the five year period was high. The averages were between 193.25 eggs in 1932 and 212.85 eggs in 1935. The average for all five years was 199.85 eggs. The possible reason for this high average may be ads in part to the elimination of low producers, i. 6., those laying less than 100 eggs, leaving a rather homogenous high producing group. The coefficients of variation were about the same for all five years with the exception of 1952. The averages-showed that the pullets did not function the same as to egg production or egg points from year to year. The Rock pallets in 1935 far surpassed those for other years. Table V showed that the yearly egg point averages fluctuated more than the averages for egg production. The averages for egg points and egg production were lower in 1952 than the corresponding averages. The standard deviations showed considerable variation in points scored on eggs from year to year. The standard deviations and the coefficients of variation were about the same for all five years. The variations for the egg point distributions were more alike than those pertaining to egg pro- duction. Tables IV and V showed that the means for egg points and egg produc- tions were about the same from year to year. This would indicate that there was a definite relation between egg production and egg points. Pearson linear correlation coefficient was computed between the number of eggs laid and the number of points scored for 64 Barred Rock pallets r chosen at random during 1933, and was found to be: n : .952. p The very high coefficient showed that the number of eggs laid was definitely associated with the number of egg points scored. Tables IX and I showed that the averages of egg production and egg points for Leghorns were rather high throughout the five year period. All yearly averages for egg production were greater than 208. In 1952 the highest average for egg production 222.17 and the highest average for egg points was 220.02. The five year average for egg production was 216 and the five year average for egg points was 217.21. The difference between the highest and the lowest yearly averages was 19.60 eggs for the Leghorns while the difference between the highest and lowest yearly averages for Rocks was 14.5. Table XI showed that the five year average for egg production and egg points scored was significantly higher for Leghorns than for Rocks dur- ing this same period. The corresponding yearly averages were significantly higher for Leghorns than for Rocks with the exception of 1933 when the aver- ages were about the same. These data would suggest that Single Comb White Leghorns not only laid more eggs during the contest than Barred Rocks but also produced eggs with a higher point average. LITERATURE CITED Card, C. G., Poultry Project Bulletin, East Lansing, Michigan, Depart- ment of Poultry Husbandry, Michigan State College of Agri- culture mnd Applied Science, vols. 12 and 13, Nos. 9 and 12. Card, C. G., and E. S. Weisner, Poultry Project Bulletin, East Lansing, Michigan, Department of Poultry Husbandry, Michigan State College of Agriculture and Applied Science, vols. 10 and 11, No. 2. Dunn, L. 0., Statistical Study of Egg Production in Four Breeds of Domestic Fowl. Part I, Egg Production in wyandottes. Part II, Egg Production in Rhode Island Reds, Storrs, Connecticut, Storrs Agricultural Experiment Station. (Bulletins 117 and 118). Juli, Morley A., Superior Breeding Stock in Poultry (Reprint of pages 947— 995) United States Department of Agriculture Year Book Sepa— rate No. 1565. Kirkpatrick, wm. F., and Leslie E. Card. Third International Laying Con- test, Storrs, Connecticut, Storrs Agricultural Experiment Station. (Bulletin No. 82). waters, Prof. Nelson F. and John C. Weldin. Studies on the Inheritance of Egg Weight, The Effect of Selection of Egg Weight, Rhode Island College of Agricultural Experiment Station (Bulletin No. 218). Weisner, E. S. Michigan International Egg Laying Contest, American Poultry Record, Sellerville, Pennsylvania. The Poultry Item Publication Company, 1930. Pearl, R., and F. M. Surface (1909-1910) A Biometrical Study of Egg Produc- tion in Domestic Fowl. U. S. D. A. Bureau Animal Industry (Bulletin No. 110), Part I and II. Woods, Charles A. Poultry Work at the Maine Station, Maine Agricultural Experiment Station, Orono, Maine (Bulletin No. 157). Atwood, Horace and T. B. Clark. The Relationship between the Number and Weight of Eggs and Body Weight of Leghorn Fowls during the First Three Years of Production. Agricultural Experiment Station, State College of Agriculture, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia. (Bulletin No. 233). 39 Bird, S. and I. w. Sinclair. On the validity of Progeny Tests of Sires Obtained on Culled Population of Daughters. Reprint from Scientific Agriculture, September, 1938, Central EXperimental Farm, Ottawa, Canada. APPENDIX pmopnoo magma mwm 23 pm omsom hapflsom .4 Em usxuivg {okuh 0 L3 SJJRC/ spaxxuc J‘Q$K “Wm 94"“2/ l/ GEEEEEEE‘F 1' a rat; gun's ,' Vl'iaiEg EsagLite ‘Ess g. .2 can; _. g ii: as sdpE a! as g j. g . 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