Die Frage der Blutuntersuchungen im Rahmen des Geflügelgesundheitsdienstes. W. Schmidt. Archiv für Geflügelkunde, 1938, No. 8/9.

Summary:

By the use of the “Quick ” Method the presence of Bacterium pullorum can with certainty be proved. This method gives very nearly as reliable results as the “Slow” Method. It can, therefore, and also by reason of its simplicity and economy of time and money be given the preference.

First Egg-Laying Competition of Show-Birds in Germany, 1937–38. A. Becker. Geflügel-Börse, April 21st, 1939.

Only hens from exposition-breeders were tested. 12 flocks were in the test. Average production 187·8 eggs, average weight 56·4 grammes, mortality 8·3 per cent. This first competition was a great success for the breeders who during years already bred their fowls only for expositions.

The connection between the Colour of the Eyes, the Mortality, and the Production of White Leghorns. Het Verband tusschen de oogkleur van Witte Leghorns en de Herfte en de productie. Dr. J. B. van der Meulen. Landbouwkundig Tijdschrift, Vol. 50, 1938, p. 868.

An investigation, in which 406 White Leghorns of two different strains were used, on the connection between the colour of the eyes of normal healthy pullets at the beginning of the laying period on the one hand and the production and mortality during the pullet year on the other hand, led to the following conclusions:—

1. 1. The mortality amongst hens with abnormal colour of the eyes, (brown-grey and/or blue) is considerably higher than that amongst birds with normal orange coloured eyes, and the production of the former is on the average lower than that of the latter.

2. 2. Birds with one normal and one abnormal coloured eyes, correspond to birds with normal coloured eyes as far as mortality is concerned, but their average production resembles more than that of birds with two abnormal eyes.

3. 3. Not only an abnormal eye colour but also an abnormal shape of the pupil seems to point to higher mortality and the highest mortality is probable amongst birds which have both an abnormal colour, as well as an abnormal shape of the pupil.

Artificial Drying of Grasses of Various Kinds. S. J. Smjetnieff. Transactions of the all-union Institute of Poultry Industries, Moscow, U.S.S.R., Vol. 3, No. 2, 1938.

The aim of experiments was to ascertain the relative A vitamin value of following artificially dried grasses: a sowing mixture of clover with Timothy grass, and sowing mixture of vetch with oats and nettle.