Our Changing Poultry Enterprise and its Relation to Dairy Cattle and Hogs

Abstract

MANY CHANGES have taken place in the poultry enterprise during recent years. Some of them have been rather spectacular. Better breeding, better feeding and care, and better disease control have resulted in a large increase in the number of eggs laid per hen and in an increase in the average size of farm flocks. Whenever possible, farmers should make full use of these improvements in poultry production to increase their farm incomes. It is equally desirable, however, that they do not allow their enthusiasm for poultry to cause them to overlook the opportunities available to them in other forms of livestock. As only about five per cent of the farmers get as much as half of their income from poultry, it is evident that poultry is customarily found in combination with other farm enterprises. Usually, the livestock combination includes poultry, cattle, and hogs.