Is There an Egg-laying Type of the Domestic Fowl?

THE phenotypic method of selecting layers and breeders based on the visible characters they possess constitutes the fundamental basis of judging fowls, whether in the showroom or in production classes. So long as the selection of breeding stock is based upon such an empirical method of procedure just so long will progress be retarded in the development of strains of fowls excelling in any particular. It is probably safe to say that there have been very few poultrymen anywhere in the world who have ever produced from year to year any more than a small percentage of their flock possessing reasonably good standard quality. The reason for such mediocre results in poultry breeding work is that the phenotypic instead of the genotypic method of selecting the breeders has been practised. If poultrymen breeding exhibition poultry had practised the progeny test, basing the selection of their breeding stock on the quality . . .