Show TURKEY RAISING ON DECLINE ON FARMS prepared by the united states department of 0 agrico agriculture t ture turkey raising in the united states b has a s been on the decline during the last 20 years especially as an enterprise ott on tile the general farms of the country formerly large humbers were raised in new england but in recent y years ears there has been a decided decrease in this section as well as in other parts of the country several causes have been assigned by the united states department of agriculture for the decrease in the numbers now raised the rearing of the young stock in some respects at least requires more detailed attention than Is the case with most other classes of poultry and turkeys liae hae given way to these other classes the prevalence of blackhead has been a dominant factor and responsible for the discouragement of many raisers ral sers the birds range widely and frequently trespass upon the property of neighbors the vexation tending to discourage turkey raising finally little attention has been given the most important problems of the industry by investigators on the other hand there Is according to the united states department of agriculture good opportunity for further development turkey raising Is profitable particularly where conditions are suitable and where proper methods of management are followed the department has issued a new bulletin on turkey raising farmers bulletin 1409 which discusses the important points of the business and offers suggestions for making the industry a more profitable enterprise the bulletin sums up some of these fundamental factors as follows to be successful in turkey raising one must give the most careful consideration to certain fundamental factors the turkeys especially the growing stock must be kept under the best possible conditions free range seems indispensable although there are a few who have made a success in raising turkeys in confinement A more thorough test of this method is necessary however ho Never before it can be advocated certainly abundance of free range on clean soil Is greatly to be preferred every effort should be made to keep the soil boll sweet and clean this is particularly true of the ground on which the birds are fed and where they roost another fundamental essential Is to t keep healthy and vigorous breeding stock in the best possible breeding condition the breeding birds should jet get plenty of exercise and should not be fed too heavily on fattening rations the great difficulty Is to get stock that ill at Is free from blackhead but one can at least select breeding stock based on constitutional vigor by breeding from the most vigorous birds every year a flock of healthy healt liy birds may be developed and maintained certainly much more care should be exercised in the selection of male breeders bleeders bre eders each year both old and young turkeys should be protected from dampness in sections of tile the country where dampness Is prevalent or where rainstorms brainstorms rain storms are frequent the birds should be provided with suitable protection it Is very important not to teed feed the boults too heavily especially the first few weeks keep them just a little hungry A copy of this bulletin may be secured as long as the supply lasts from the united states department of agriculture washington D 0 |