Purdue University Agricultural Extension Service Poultry Science Department Lafayette, Indiana
Mimeo P-66 December 1958
Adjusting Laying Flock Management to Present Day Trends
By Joe W. Sicer
Several trends in operation today have basic influences on the management of the laying flock. Adjustment to these trends is essential for satisfactory poultry income
One of several important trends affecting the market egg production business today is the increasing insistence of buyers for eggs of uniform good quality in volume.
Much of this has developed because the super markets have grown in prominence in the retail sales of eggs. Super markets now account for about 60 percent of all food purchases. Homemakers are buying an increasing proportion of their eggs from super markets because of convenience and because they are finding the quality generally satisfactory. Super markets have found that the homemaker does it demand the very highest quality but she does want to get the same quality week after week and in every egg in the dozen. Super market business is based on volume, hence the demand for eggs of uniform good quality in volume.
A second trend is the fact that the actuation in price of eggs seasonally is deceasing. During the 1935-39 period, average egg prices varied from a March, 20 percent below the 5 year average to a
35 percent above average. During the 1953-56 period the variation was only above 10 percent below in May to 8 percent above the 5 year average price in September. Better breeding, feeding, housing and the hatching of chicks throughout the year out reduced this fluctuation by leveling out egg production throughout the year.
Per capita egg consumption down - - -
For some not fully understood reasons there has been a decrease in the number 1945 eaten per person in the U.S.  In 1945, we averaged 402 eggs per person per year.
In 1950, it was 389; 19955, 371; and in 1958 it is estimated at 348 egg. The
Poultry and Egg National Board has made an extensive survey trying to find the reasons. One point uncovered was that young wives under 30 years use fewer eggs than do older homemakers. More of these young wives work away from home and are pressed for time.
This decrease in consumption has tended to push egg prices down to about a third lower than their high average of 1948. In spite of more production per hen, the margin of profit per bird has decreased.
Two favorable trends have helped the producer. The population of the U.S. continues to increase so there are enough more people to eat the additional eggs resulting from the higher production per hen. Mechanization and know-how have made it possible for one man to handle more hens.
How to adjust - —
To meet these situations the egg producer today must produce what the buyer wants and he must do it more efficiently.
Larger size flocks is part of the answer but it is by no means the only nor all of the answer. Size does make possible many efficiencies in use of labor. Size justifies investment in various mechanizations, mechanical feeders, controlled ventilation, mechanical refrigeration, home mix-mills. The larger number of eggs to sell is a help in obtaining better market outlets. Some egg buyers pay additional premium for volume. With more at stake in a larger flock, egg producers are inclined to study their problems more carefully and give higher priority to the work with the chickens.