Influences of Spring Bluegrass and Mature Bluegrass Pastures on Laying Hens and on the Eggs Produced

THE data reported herein supplement the results of an experiment previously published (Buckner et al., 1943) which compared bluegrass growing in April and May with mature bluegrass which had been undisturbed until June, as pasture for laying hens fed a complete mash. The published data indicated that a bare or bluegrass range in connection with a complete all-mash ration did not influence consumption of mash by laying hens during the summer period after the grass had matured, but that bluegrass range during the spring growing season lessened consumption of mash about 20 percent, and bare range lessened it slightly. Neither grass range nor bare range influenced the health or weight of the hens or the weight or hatchability of the eggs, but during the spring season the growing grass increased egg production. The all-mash ration used in the experiment consisted of ground yellow corn 53.5 percent, mixed wheat feed 21.0 . . .