Crossbred Poultry. Hybrid Vigor. D. C. Warren, Agricultural Experimental Station, Manhattan, Kansas. Bulletin, 252.

Summary:

1. 1. Crosses between the Single Comb White Leghorn and Jersey Black Giant showed the resulting hybrids to be superior to the two pure breeds in all measurements of vigor.

2. 2. The results from the Single Comb White Leghorn-Single Comb Rhode Island Red cross showed the hybrids to be generally superior to the pure breeds, but in a few comparisons the hybrids only equalled the better of the two breeds involved.

3. 3. The crosses of Single Comb White Leghorns by Barred Plymouth Rocks and of Single Comb Rhode Island Reds by Barred Plymouth Rocks produced hybrids that in each case were superior to the pure breeds involved, for chick mortality and rate of growth, these being the only criteria of vigor considered.

4. 4. Crosses between independently bred strains of Single Comb White Leghorns produced offspring that were in some respects superior to the pure strain progeny, but the degree of stimulation did not appear to be so great as in the crosses of different breeds.

5. 5. Sex of chicks may be distinguished at hatching by means of sex-linked down colours in crossbred chicks.

6. 6. The new method utilising the growth of wing feathers at hatching is slightly less accurate for identifying the sexes, but has certain advantages over the down-colour method.

7. 7. The advantages of the wing feather growth method are that it makes available the White Leghorn breed, which is widely popular and well bred for production; it produces a white hybrid; and greatly extends the list of breeds available for crossing to distinguish sex at hatching.

8. 8. The superior vigour of some hybrids probably makes them more economical than most pure breeds for the poultryman whose major income is from market poultry and eggs.

On the Vitamin Content of Cod Liver Oil, as Influenced by the Nutritional State of the Cod. E. Poulsson and F. Ender. State Vitamin Institute, Oslo. Skandinavisches Archiv. für Physiologie, Vol. 66, 1933, p. 92.

From these experiments the conclusion can be drawn, that the liver oil from the spawning, mal-nourished cod contains a somewhat smaller amount of vitamin A but considerably more vitamin D than does the liver oil from the well-nourished, not spawning cod.

Bacillary White Diarrhœa. De Bacillaire Witte Diarrhe of Witte Afgang der Kuikens. Dr. G. Vandevelde-Vlaamsch-Diergeneeskundig Tjdschrift, 1933, p. 57.

Summary:

The pullorin- or wattle-test, in its present state of development, cannot be commended for eradication of pullorin disease from poultry flocks. This, according to our own experiments and those of several investigators and laboratory-workers in B. W. D. control. The pullorin reactions don't check with the bacteriological and post-;mortem findings. The only accurate, reliable and suitable methods for the research of the infected birds are the seroagglutination and the whole blood rapid test. The two methods are of similar scientific value.

New Poultry Equipment. D. C. Kennard. Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station. Special Circular 14.

Contents:

Portable Brooder House with Composition Board Siding. Summer Range Shelter. New Model Mash Feeder. Warm Water Device for Winter Layers. Droppings Board Scraper.