The Relation of the Weight of Rhode Island Red Pullets at Four Weeks to their Subsequent Rate of Growth

The degree of relationship that exists between the weight of chickens at an early age and the subsequent rate of grow is an important factor in their early selection. Rate of growth, as used in this article, refers to the increase in weight of a bird relative to the time required to bring the increase. If chickens that are large early in their development continue to hold this advantage up past the broiler stage we have a basis for the early elimination of the slow growing birds. A larger profit would be obtained through the early disposal of the birds that are below average weight if they could be sold with assurance that if carried along the greater per cent of them would be culled later in the season. At present, many commercial poultrymen follow the practice of disposing of the faster growing cockerels as broilers. If a positive relationship . . .