The Seasonal Distribution of Egg-Production: The normal Egg-Production Curve. F. M. Fronda. The Philippine Agriculturist, Vol. XVII, No. 1. College of Agriculture, University of the Philippines.

Summary and Conclusions:

1. 1. The monthly percentages of egg production of Cantonese, Native, White, Leghorn, and Barred Plymouth Rock breeds of chickens for five years, 1922 to 1927, and of Rhode Island Red for four years, 1922 to 1926, are presented in this paper.

2. 2. A comparison of the egg production curve of the Cantonese breed is made with that of the Black Orpington in Australia and of the Barred Plymouth Rock in the United States.

3. 3. The data presented show conclusively that there is a definite type of egg production curve in this country.

4. 4. The egg production curve in this country is very similar to those of the United States and Australia, although they do not exactly coincide as to the time of the year.

5. 5. There is sufficient reason to believe that the egg production curve of chickens in this country is perhaps more nearly like the normal egg production curve of the primitive kinds of fowls than curves of egg production observed in the temperate countries.

6. 6. The laying year may be roughly divided into two periods, the reproductive period, January to June, and the rest period, July to December.

7. 7. The reproductive life of a chicken is a succession of the reproductive period and of the rest period, which correspond very closely to the two distinct dry and wet seasons of the year.

8. 8. The annual molt coincides in general with the gradual drop of egg production which begins about July and ends about December.

9. 9. If fowls start in their reproductive processes early in the season, a second or even a third clutch of eggs may be laid during the favorable period of the year.

10. 10. The number of eggs laid by the hens during each of these periods depends upon the age and individuality of the birds, the amount of care given them in feeding, housing, and management, and upon other conditions of the environment.

The effects of inbreeding on hatchability. Rapports du Congres du Petit Elevage. Anvers 4–5 Octobre 1930. Prof. A. G. Dumon, Lecturer at Louvain University, Director of the Experimental Station at the Boerenbond Belge.

Conclusions.

(a) Since the crossing of strains from different families eliminated the disastrous effects of inbreeding, it is possible, without incurring any very great hazards, to practice more or less close inbreeding to as pure a hereditary formula as possible.

Eradication of pullorum disease in Massachusetts, 1928–1929, W. R. Hinshaw, E. F. Sanders, and G. L. Dunlap, Massachusetts Sta, Control Ser. Bul. 48, 1929.

This is the ninth annual progress report on the work with pullorum disease in Massachusetts, where eradication rather than control has now become the objective. During the 1928-29 testing season, 304,092 tests were made on 254,512 birds in 413 flocks. There were 228 (55.21 per cent) nonreacting flocks having a total of 153,334 (60.25 per cent) birds tested; 157 of these flocks, totaling 121,277 birds, were 100 per cent tested, while the remaining 71 flocks were partially tested. Indications that progress in eradication is being made are supported by an increase of 92 flocks and 63,861 birds tested, and by the fact that there were 90 more nonreacting flocks and 72,505 more birds in such flocks than in the preceding year. The percentage of poultry population in nonreacting flocks increased from 3.98 per cent in 1927–28 to 7.55 per cent in 1928–29.

The Transmission of Pullorum Disease among sexually mature Fowls. H. C. H. Kernkamp, University of Minnesota, St. Paul. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 1930, p. 280.

The statistical results of two experiments are in rather close agreement.

Harmful Effects of Oats and Oatmeal. N. D. Kay, Poultry, May 10, 1930.

Oats contain an anti-vitamin. So far as known anti-vitamins occur only in association with vitamins. We must carefully investigate, not only the vitamin content, but also the possible danger of the anti-vitamins. Oats and oatmeal contains an anti-vitamin which is believed to be a potente source of trouble in chicken feeding. It is an anti-substance to the fat-soluble vitamin D. When oat-meal is used a g.reat deal of other valuable vitamin D food is rendered valueless. These facts explain the lamentably large number of cases of bone disease in Scotland, where they spoil good milk with the proverbial Scotch breakfast of oatmeal. It also explains a great deal of the poultry-leg weakness and kindred evils.

Are Oats harmful to Fowls? Dangers of its Anti-vitamin questioned. Norman D. Kay. Poultry, Aug. 30, 1930.

In „The Science of Life”, recently published Huxley and Wells discuss the dangers of a diet lacking in vitamin D. On page 710 they say: „It appears that in some cereals there is an „antivitamin”, which in some way neutralises vitamin D. Oatmeal contains such a substance and if the staple carbohydrate is oatmeal, more vitamin D will be neaded than if it is wheatflour or rice”.