OCR Text |
Show Poultryman Warns Against Diseased Stock Brooder chick mortality is less than Average in Utah this year due to an improved breeding and disease control program, Ralph S. lackham, extension poultryman at the Utah State Agricultural college reports. A large percentage of the chick mortality has been due to Pullo-rum Pullo-rum disease caused by diseased breeding stock. Practically all of the hens kept for breeding are now being blood tested for Pol-lorum Pol-lorum and the mortality rate will be further reduced in the future. If green pastures are provided for pullets each year, stronger and healthier birds will result and feed costs will be reduced. When green range is used the area provided pro-vided should be large enough so that it can be divided into sections sec-tions to allow rotation. Birds should never be raised entirely on the same pasture. Sanitation should also be practised on the range by keeping feed and water troughs clean and moving them once a week. Well fed chicks will consume ten pounds of feed per 100 chicks the first week: 20 pounds the second week; 30 pounds the third week; and 40 pounds the fourth week ; The first four weeks 100 chicks will consume 100 pounds of feed 260 pounds the first eight weeks; 765 pounds the first twelve weeks; 1,255 pounds the' first 16 weeks; 1,825 pounds the first 20 weeks, and 2.475 pounds the first 24 weeks. For larger birds, feed requirements are 25 pounds to feed hens daily 25 pounds to feed a pullet to laying age; and 75 pounds to feed turkey tur-key to market age. Poultrymen of the state are steadly becoming more encouraged encour-aged because of substantial increases in-creases in egg and poultry prices. The new government "food for defense" program and the general gen-eral increase in consumer incomes caused by defense orders is stimulating stim-ulating interest in poultry production produ-ction by creating greater demand thus bringing about higher prices Mr. Blackham concludes. |