The Proposed Breeding Program of the Regional Poultry Research Laboratory

Abstract

THE U. S. Regional Poultry Research Laboratory has as one of its objectives a genetic approach to the problem of improving viability in poultry. It was the unanimous opinion of all concerned with the establishment of this laboratory that fowl paralysis and a certain more or less closely related group of diseases constituted the most important problem confronting the poultry industry and that all energy should be directed toward its control. A genetic approach to this problem calls for the formation of families inherently resistant or susceptible to fowl paralysis and possessing, to a marked degree, characters of general economic value. While susceptible families would be of little economic importance their genetic value would be great, for without such lines the mode of inheritance of resistance and the influence of the environment would be difficult to determine. In addition, susceptible non-carrier stocks are necessary for pathologic studies, including epizootiology, immunization, .