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XL S. SUPT. OF DOCUMENTS

FARMERS AND FARM PRODUCTION
IN THE UNITED STATES

(A COOPERATIVE REPORT)

Vol. Ill - pt. 9 ch. IV

Poultry Producers and
Poultry Production

SPECIAL REPORTS

1954

Census
Agriculture

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

BUREAU OF THE CENSUS AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE

WASHINGTON • 1956

us

I

U. S. Department of Agriculture

Ezra Tart Benson, Secretary

Agricultural Research Service

Byron T. Shaw, Administrator

U. S. Department of Commerce

Sinclair Weeks, Secretary

Bureau of the Census

Robert W. Burgess, Director

United States

c

ensus

of
Agriculture

1954

W I ill

Volume Ml
SPECIAL REPORTS

Part 9

Farmers and Farm Production in the United States

(A Cooperative Report)

Chapter IV

Poultry Producers and
Poultry Production

CHARACTERISTICS OF FARMERS and FARM PRODUCTION
PRINCIPAL TYPES OF FARMS •

■v\

BUREAU OF THE CENSUS
Robert W. Burgess. Director

AGRICULTURE DIVISION
Ray Hurley, Chief
Warder B. Jenkins. Assistant Chief

AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE
Byron T. Shaw, Administrator

FARM AND LAND MANAGEMENT RESEARCH
Sherman E. Johnson, Director

PRODUCTION ECONOMICS RESEARCH BRANCH
Carl P. Heisig, Chief

Boston Public Library
Superintendent of Documents

JUL 2 5 1957

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SUGGESTED IDENTIFICATION

U. S. Bureau of the Census. U. S. Census of Agriculture: 1954. Vol. Ill, Special Reports

Part 9, Farmers and Farm Production in the United States.

Chapter IV, Poultry Producers and Poultry Production

U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C, 1956.

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D. C
or any of the Field Offices of the Department of Commerce, Price 30 cents (paper cover)

PREFACE

The purpose of this report is to present an analysis of the characteristics of farmers and farm production
for the most important types of farms as shown by data for the 1954 Census of Agriculture. The analysis
deals with the relative importance, pattern of resource use, some measures of efficiency, and problems of
adjustment and change for the principal types of farms.

The data given in the various chapters of this report have been derived largely from the special tabula-
tion of data for each type of farm, by economic class, for the 1954 Census of Agriculture. The detailed
statistics for each type of farm for the United States and the principal subregions appear in Part 8 of Volume
III of the reports for the 1954 Census of Agriculture.

This cooperative report was prepared under the direction of Ray Hurley, Chief of the Agriculture Divi-
sion of the Bureau of the Census, U. S. Department of Commerce, and Kenneth L. Bachman, Head, Produc-
tion, Income, and Costs Section, Production Economics Research Branch, Agricultural Research Service of
the U. S. Department of Agriculture.

Jackson V. McElveen, Agricultural Economist, Production, Income, and Costs Section, Production
Economics Research Branch, Agricultural Research Service of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, super-
vised a large part of the detailed planning and analysis for the various chapters.

The list of chapters and the persons preparing each chapter are as follows:

Chapter I Wheat Producers and Wheat

Production
A. W. Epp,
University of Nebraska.

Chapter II Cotton Producers and Cotton

Production
Robert B. Glasgow,
Production Economics Research

Branch,
Agricultural Research Service,
United States Department of

Agriculture.

Chapter III Tobacco and Peanut Producers

and Production
R. E. L. Greene,
University of Florida.

Chapter IV

Chapter V.

Poultry Producers and Poultry

Production
William P. Mortenson,
University of Wisconsin.

Dairy Producers and Dairy Pro-
duction
P. E. McNall,
University of Wisconsin.

Chapter VI Western Stock Ranches and Live-
stock Farms
Mont H. Saunderson,
Western Ranching and Lands

Consultant,
Bozeman, Mont.

Chapter VII — Cash-grain and Livestock Pro-
ducers in the Corn Belt

Edwin G. Strand,

Production Economics Research
Branch,

Agricultural Research Service,

United States Department of
Agriculture.

Chapter VIII.. Part-time Farming
H. G. Halcrow,
University of Connecticut.

Chapter IX Agricultural Producers and Pro-
duction in the United States —
A General View
Jackson V. McElveen,
Production Economics Research

Branch,
Agricultural Research Service,
United States Department of
Agriculture.

The editorial work for this report was performed by Caroline B. Sherman, and the preparation of the

statistical tables was supervised by Margaret Wood.

December 1956

in

UNITED STATES CENSUS OF AGRICULTURE: 1954

REPORTS

Volume I. — Counties and State Economic Areas. Statistics for counties include number of farms, acreage, value, and farm operators;
farms by color and tenure of operator; facilities and equipment; use of commercial fertilizer; farm labor; farm expenditures; livestock and
livestock products; specified crops harvested; farms classified by tj'pe of farm and by economic class; and value of products sold by source.

Data for State economic areas include farms and farm characteristics by tenure of operator, by type of farm, and by economic class.

Volume I is published in 33 parts.

Volume II. — General Report. Statistics by Subjects, United States Census of Agriculture, 1954. Summary data and analyses of
the data for States, for Geographic Divisions, and for the United States by subjects.

Volume III. — Special Reports

Part 1. — Multiple-Unit Operations. This report will be similar to
Part 2 of Volume V of the reports for the 1950 Census of Agri-
culture. It will present statistics for approximately 900
counties and State economic areas in 12 Southern States and
Missouri for the number and characteristics of multiple-unit
operations and farms in multiple units.

Part 2. — Ranking Agricultural Counties. This special report will
present statistics for selected items of inventory and agricul-
tural production for the leading counties in the United States.

Part 3. — Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, District of Columbia, and
U. S. Possessions. These areas were not included in the 1954
Census of Agriculture. The available current data from vari-
ous Government sources will be compiled and published in
this report.

Part 4. — Agriculture, 1954, a Graphic Summary. This report will
present graphically some of the significant facts regarding
agriculture and agricultural production as revealed by the 1954
Census of Agriculture.

Part 5. — Farm-Mortgage Debt. This will be a cooperative study-
by the Agricultural Research Service of the U. S. Department
of Agriculture and the Bureau of the Census. It will present,
by States, data based on the 1954 Census of Agriculture and a
special mail survey conducted in January 1956, on the num-
ber of mortgaged farms, the amount of mortgage debt, and the
amount of debt held by principal lending agencies.

Part 6. — Irrigation in Humid Areas. This cooperative report by
the Agricultural Research Service of the U. S. Department of
Agriculture and the Bureau of the Census will present data ob-
tained by a mail survey of operators of irrigated farms in 28
States on the source of water, method of applying water, num-
ber of pumps used, acres of crops irrigated in 1954 and 1955,
the number of times each crop was irrigated, and the cost of
irrigation equipment and the irrigation system.

Part 7. — Popular Report of the 1954 Census of Agriculture. This
report is planned to be a general, easy-to-read publication for
the general public on the status and broad characteristics of
United States agriculture. It will seek to delineate such as-
pects of agriculture as the geographic distribution and dif-
ferences by size of farm for such items as farm acreage, princi-
pal crops, and important kinds of livestock, farm facilities,
farm equipment, use of fertilizer, soil conservation practices,
farm tenure, and farm income.

Part 8. — Size of Operation by Type of Farm. This will be a coop-
erative special report to be prepared in cooperation with the
Agricultural Research Service of the U. S. Department of Agri-
culture. This report will contain data for 119 economic sub-

regions (essentially general type-of-farming areas) showing the
general characteristics for each type of farm by economic class.
It will provide data for a current analysis of the differences
that exist among groups of farms of the same type. It will
furnish statistical basis for a realistic examination of produc-
tion of such commodities as wheat, cotton, and dairy products
in connection with actual or proposed governmental policies
and programs.
Part 9. — Farmers and Farm Production in the United States.
The purpose of this report is to present an analysis of the
characteristics of farmers and farm production for the most
important types of farms as shown by data for the 1954 Census
of Agriculture. The analysis deals with the relative importance,
pattern of resource use, some measures of efficiency, and prob-
lems of adjustment and change for the principal types of farms.
The report was prepared in cooperation with the Agricultural
Research Service of the U. S. Department of Agriculture.

The list of chapters (published separately only) and title
for each chapter are as follows:

Chapter I — Wheat Producers and Wheat Production
II — Cotton Producers and Cotton Production
III — Tobacco and Peanut Producers and Production
IV — Poultry Producers and Poultry Production

V — Dairy Producers and Dairy Production
VI — Western Stock Ranches and Livestock Farms
VII — Cash-Grain and Livestock Producers in the Corn

Belt
VIII — Part-Time Farming
IX — Agricultural Producers and Production in the
United Slates — A General View
Part 10. — Use of Fertilizer and Lime. The purpose of this report
is to present in one publication most of the detailed data com-
piled for the 1954 Census of Agriculture regarding the use of
fertilizer and lime. The report presents data for counties,
State economic areas, and generalized type-of-farming areas
regarding the quantity used, acreage on which used, and
expenditures for fertilizer and lime. The Agricultural Research
Service cooperated with the Bureau of the Census in the prep-
aration of this report.
Part 11. — Farmers' Expenditures. This report presents detailed
data on expenditures for a large number of items used for farm
production in 1955, and on the living expenditures of farm
operators' families. The data were collected and compiled
cooperatively by the Agricultural Marketing Service of the
U. S. Department of Agriculture and the Bureau of the Census.
Part 12. — Methods and Procedures. This report contains an
outline and a description of the methods and procedures used
in taking and compiling the 1954 Census of Agriculture.

INTRODUCTION

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VI

INTRODUCTION

Purpose and scope. — American agriculture is exceedingly diverse
and is undergoing revolutionary changes. Farmers and their
families obtain their income by producing a large variety of
products under a large variety of conditions as well as from sources
other than farming. The organization of production, type of
farming, productivity, income, expenditures, size, and character-
istics of operators of the 4.8 million farms in the United States
vary greatly. Agriculture has been a dynamic, moving, adjusting
part of our economy. Basic changes in farming have been occurring
and will continue to be necessary. Adjustments brought by tech-
nological change, by changing consumer wants, by growth of
population, and by changes in the income of nonfarm people, have
been significant forces in changing agriculture since World War II.
The transition from war to an approximate peacetime situation
has also made it necessary to reduce the output of some farm
products. Some of the adjustments in agriculture have not pre-
sented relatively difficult problems as they could be made by the
transfer of resources from the production of one product to another.
Others require substantial shifts in resources and production.

Moreover, a considerable number of farm families, many of whom
are employed full time in agriculture, have Relatively low incomes.
Most of these families operate farms that are small when compared
with farms that produce higher incomes. The acreage of land and
the amount of capital controlled by the operators of these small
farms are too small to provide a very high level of income. In
recent years, many farm families on these small farms have made
adjustments by leaving the farm to earn their incomes elsewhere,
by discontinuing their farm operations, and by earning more non-
farm income while remaining on the farm or on the place they
farmed formerly.

One objective of this report is to describe and analyze some of
the existing differences and recent adjustments in the major types
of farming and farm production. For important commodities and
groups of farms, the report aims to make available, largely from
the detailed data for the 1954 Census of Agriculture but in a more
concise form, facts regarding the size of farms, capital, labor, and
land resources on farms, amounts and sources of farm income and
expenditures, combinations of crop and livestock enterprises,
adjustment problems, operator characteristics, and variation in use
of resources and in size of farms by areas and for widely differing
production conditions. Those types of farms on which production
of surplus products is important have been emphasized. The
report will provide a factual basis for a better understanding of
the widespread differences among farms in regard to size, resources,
and income. It will also provide a basis for evaluating the effects
of existing and proposed farm programs on the production and
incomes of major types and classes of farms.

Income from nonfarm sources is important on a large number
of farms. About 1.4 million of the 4.8 million farm-operator
families, or about 3 in 10, obtain more income from off -farm sources
than from the sale of agricultural products. More than three-
fourths of a million farm operators live on small-scale part-time
farms and ordinarily are not dependent on farming as the main
source of family income. These part-time fanners have a quite
different relation to adjustments, changes, and farm problems
than do commercial farmers. A description of and facts regarding
these part-time farms and the importance of nonfarm income for
commercial farms are presented in Chapter 8.

Except for Chapter 8, this report deals with commercial farms
(see economic class of farm). The analysis is limited to the major
types of agricultural production and deals primarily with geo-
graphic areas in which each of the major types of agricultural
production has substantial significance.

Source of data. — Most of the data presented in this report are
from special compilations made for the 1954 Census of Agriculture,
although pertinent data from research findings and surveys of the
U. S. Department of Agriculture, State Agricultural Colleges, and
other agencies have been used to supplement Census data. The
detailed Census data used for this report are contained in Part 8 of
Volume III of the reports of the 1954 Census of Agriculture.
Reference should be made to that report for detailed explanations
and definitions and statements regarding the characteristics and
reliability of the data.

Areas for which data are presented. — Data are presented in
this report primarily for selected economic subregions and for the
1 nited States. The boundaries of the 119 subregions used for the
compilation of data on winch this report is based are indicated by
the map on page vi. These subregions represent primarily general
type-of-farming areas. Many of them extend into two or more
States. (For a more detailed description of economic subregions,
see the publication "Economic Subregions of the United States,
Series Census BAE; No. 19, published cooperatively by the Bureau
of the Census, and the Bureau of Agricultural Economics, U. S.
Department of Agriculture, July 1953.)

DEFINITIONS AND EXPLANATIONS

Definitions and explanations are given only for some of the more
important items. For more detailed definitions and explanations,
reference can be made to Part 8 of Volume III and to Volume II of
the reports of the 1954 Census of Agriculture.

A farm. — For the 1954 Census of Agriculture, places of 3 or
more acres were counted as farms if the annual value of agricultural
products, exclusive of home-garden products, amounted to $150
or more. The agricultural products could have been either for
home use or for sale. Places of less than 3 acres were counted as
farms only if the annual value of sales of agricultural products
amounted to $150 or more. Places for which the value of agricul-
tural products for 1954 was less than these minima because of crop
failure or other unusual conditions, and places operated at the time
of the Census for the first time were counted as farms if normally
they could be expected to produce these minimum quantities of
agricultural products.

All the land under the control of one person or partnership was
included as one farm. Control may have been through ownership,
or through lease, rental, or cropping arrangement.

Farm operator. — A "farm operator" is a person who operates
a farm, either performing the labor himself or directly supervising
it. He may be an owner, a hired manager, or a tenant, renter, or
sharecropper. If he rents land to others or has land cropped for
him by others, he is listed as the operator of only that land which
he retains. In the case of a partnership, only one partner was
included as the operator. The number of farm operators is con-
sidered the same as the number of farms.

VIII

FARMERS AND FARM PRODUCTION

Farms reporting or operators reporting. — Figures for farms
reporting or operators reporting, based on a tabulation of all farms,
represent the number of farms, or farm operators, for which the
specified item was reported. For example, if there were 11,922
farms in a subregion and only 11,465 had chickens over 4 months
old on hand, the number of farms reporting chickens would be
1 1 ,465. The difference between the total number of farms and the
number of farms reporting an item represents the number of farms
not having that item, provided the inquiry was answered
completely for all farms.

Farms by type. — The classification of commercial farms by
type was made on the basis of the relationship of the value of
sales from a particular source, or sources, to the total value of all
farm products sold from the farm. In some cases, the type of
farm was determined on the basis of the sale of an individual farm
product, such as cotton, or on the basis of the sales of closely re-
lated products, such as dairy products. In other cases, the type
of farm was determined on the basis of sales of a broader group of
products, such as grain crops including corn, sorghums, all small
grains, field peas, field beans, cowpeas, and soybeans. In order to
be classified as a particular type, sales or anticipated sales of a
product or group of products had to represent 50 percent or more
of the total value of products sold.

The types of commercial farms for which data are shown, to-
gether with the product or group of products on which the classi-
fication is based are:

Product or group of -products amount-
ing to SO percent or more of the
Type of farm value of all farm products sold

Cash-grain Corn, sorghum, small grains, field

peas, field beans, cowpeas, and
soybeans.

Cotton Cotton (lint and seed).

Other field-crop Peanuts, Irish potatoes, sweet-
potatoes, tobacco, sugarcane, sug-
ar beets for sugar, and other
miscellaneous crops.

Vegetable Vegetables.

Fruit-and-nut Berries and other small fruits, and

tree fruits, nuts, and grapes.

Dairy Milk and other dairy products.

The criterion of 50 percent of the
total sales was modified in the
case of dairy farms. A farm for
which the value of sales of dairy
products represented less than 50
percent of the total value of farm
products sold was classified as a
dairy farm if —

(a) Milk and other dairy prod-
ucts accounted for 30
percent or more of the
total value of products
sold, and
(6) Milk cows represented 50
percent or more of all
cows, and
(c) Sales of dairy products, to-
gether with the sales
of cattle and calves,
amounted to 50 percent
or more of the total
value of farm products
sold.

Poultry.

Livestock farms other
dairy and poultry.

than

Chickens, eggs, turkeys, and other
poultry products.

Cattle, calves, hogs, sheep, goats,
wool, and mohair, provided the
farm did not. qualify as a dairy-
farm.

Product or group of products amount-
ing to 50 percent or more of the
Type of farm value of all farm products sold

General Farms were classified as general

when the value of products from
one source or group of sources
did not represent as much as 50
percent of the total value of all
farm products sold. Separate
figures are given for three kinds
of general farms:

(a) Primarily crop.

(b) Primarily livestock.

(c) Crop and livestock.

Primarily crop farms are those for
which the sale of one of the
following crops or groups of
crops— vegetables, fruits and
nuts, cotton, cash grains, or other
field crops — did not amount to
50 percent or more of the value
of all farm products sold, but
for which the value of sales for
all these groups of crops repre-
sented 70 percent or more of the
value of all farm products sold.

Primarily livestock farms are those
which could not qualify as dairy
farms, poultry farms, or livestock
farms other than dairy and
poultry, but on which the sale
of livestock and poultry and
livestock and poultry products
amounted to 70 percent or more
of the value of all farm products
sold.

General crop and livestock farms are
those which could not be classi-
fied as either crop farms or live-
stock farms, but on which the
sale of all crops amounted to at
least 30 percent but less than 70
percent of the total value of all
farm products sold.

Miscellaneous This group of farms includes those

that had 50 percent or more of
the total value of products ac-
counted for by sale of horticul-
tural products, or sale of horses,
or sale of forest products.

Farms by economic class. — A classification of farms by eco-
nomic class was made for the purpose of segregating groups of
farms that are somewhat alike in their characteristics and size of
operation. This classification was made in order to present an
accurate description of the farms in each class and in order to
provide basic data for an analysis of the organization of agriculture.

The classification of farms by economic class was made on the
basis of three factors; namely, total value of all farm products
sold, number of days the farm operator worked off the farm, and
the relationship of the income received from nonfarm sources by
the operator and members of his family to the value of all farm
products sold. Farms operated by institutions, experiment sta-
tions, grazing associations, and community projects were classified
as abnormal, regardless of any of the three factors.

For the purpose of determining the code for economic class and
type of farm, it was necessary to obtain the total value of farm
products sold as well as the value of some individual products
sold.

The total value of farm products sold was obtained by adding
the reported or estimated values for all products sold from the
farm. The value of livestock, livestock products except wool and
mohair, vegetables, nursery and greenhouse products, and forest

INTRODUCTION

IX

products was obtained by the enumerator from the farm operator
for each farm. The enumerator also obtained from the farm
operator the quantity sold for corn, sorghums, small grains, hays,
and small fruits. The value of sales for these crops was obtained
by multiplying the quantity sold by State average prices.

The quantity sold was estimated for all other farm products.
The entire quantity produced for wool, mohair, cotton, tobacco,
sugar beets for sugar, sugarcane for sugar, broomcorn, hops, and
mint for oil was estimated as sold. To obtain the value of each
product sold, the quantity sold was multiplied by State average
prices.

In making the classification of farms by economic class, farms
were grouped into two major groups, namely, commercial farms
and other farms. In general, all farms with a value of sales of
farm products amounting to $1,200 or more were classified as
commercial. Farms with a value of sales of $250 to $1,199 were
classified as commercial only if the farm operator worked off the
farm less than 100 days or if the income of the farm operator and
members of his family received from nonfarm sources was less than
the total value of all farm products sold.

Land in farms according to use. — Land in farms was classified
according to the use made of it in 1954. The classes of land
are mutually exclusive, i. e., each acre of land was included only
once even though it may have had more than one use during the
year.

The classes referred to in this report are as follows:

Cropland harvested.— This includes land from which crops
were harvested; land from which hay (including wild hay) was
cut; and land in small fruits, orchards, vineyards, nurseries, and
greenhouses. Land from which two or more crops were reported
as harvested was to be counted only once.

Cropland used only for pasture. — In the 1954 Census, the
enumerator's instructions stated that rotation pasture and all
other cropland that was used only for pasture were to be in-
cluded under this class. No further definition of cropland
pastured was given the farm operator or enumerator. Per-
manent open pasture may, therefore, have been included under
this item or under "other pasture," depending on whether the
enumerator or farm operator considered it as cropland.

Cropland not harvested and not pastured. — This item includes
idle cropland, land in soil-improvement crops only, land on
which all crops failed, land seeded to crops for harvest after
1954, and cultivated summer fallow.

In the Western States, this class was subdivided to show
separately the acres of cultivated summer fallow. In these
States, the acreage not in cultivated summer fallow represents
largely crop failure. There are very few counties in the West-
ern States in which there is a large acreage of idle cropland or
in which the growing of soil-improvement crops is an important
use of the land.

In the States other than the Western States, this general
class was subdivided to show separately the acres of idle crop-
land (not used for crops or for pasture in 1954). In these States,
the incidence of crop failure is usually low. It was expected
that the acreage figure that excluded idle land would reflect
the acreage in soil-improvement crops. However, the 1954
crop year was one of low rainfall in many Eastern and Southern
States and, therefore, in these areas the acreage of cropland not
harvested and not pastured includes more land on which all
crops failed than would usually be the case.

Cultivated summer fallow. — This item includes cropland
that was plowed and cultivated but left unseeded for several
months to control weeds and conserve moisture. No land
from which crops were harvested in 1954 was to be included
under this item.

Cropland, total. — This includes cropland harvested, cropland
used only for pasture, and cropland not harvested and not
pastured.

Land pastured, total. — This includes cropland used only for
pasture, woodland pastured, and other pasture (not cropland
and not woodland).

Woodland, total. — This includes woodland pastured and

woodland not pastured.

Value of land and buildings. — The value to be reported was
the approximate amount for which the land and the buildings on
it would sell.

Off-farm work and other income. — Many farm operators receive
a part of their income from sources other than the sale of farm
products from their farms. The 1954 Agriculture Questionnaire
included several inquiries relating to work off the farm and non-
farm income. These inquiries called for the number of days
worked off the farm by the farm operator; whether other members
of the operator's family worked off the farm; and whether the
farm operator received income from other sources, such as sale
of products from land rented out, cash rent, boarders, old age
assistance, pensions, veterans' allowances, unemployment com-
pensation, interest, dividends, profits from nonfarm business,
and help from other members of the operator's family. Another
inquiry asked whether the income of the operator and his family
from off-farm work and other sources was greater than the total
value of all agricultural products sold from the farm in 1954.
Off-farm work was to include work at nonfarm jobs, businesses,
or professions, whether performed on the farm premises or else-
where; also, work on someone else's farm for pay or wages. Ex-
change work was not to be included.

Specified facilities and equipment. — Inquiries were made in
1954 to determine the presence or absence of selected items on
each place such as (1) telephone, (2) piped running water, (3)
electricity, (4) television set, (5) home freezer, (6) electric pig
brooder, (7) milking machine, and (8) power feed grinder. Such
facilities or equipment were to be counted even though tem-
porarily out of order. Piped running water was defined as water
piped from a pressure system or by gravity flow from a natural
or artificial source. The enumerator's instructions stated that
pig brooders were to include those heated by an electric heating
element, by an infrared or heat bulb, or by ordinary electric bulbs.
They could be homemade.

The number of selected types of other farm equipment was also
obtained for a sample of farms. The selected kinds of farm
equipment to be reported were (1) grain combines (for harvesting
and threshing grains or seeds in one operation); (2) cornpickers;
(3) pickup balers (stationary ones not to be reported) ; (4) field
forage harvesters (for field chopping of silage and forage crops) ;
(5) motortrucks; (6) wheel tractors (other than garden); (7)
garden tractors; (8) crawler tractors (tracklaying, caterpillar) ;
(9) automobiles; and (10) artificial ponds, reservoirs, and earth
tanks.

Wheel tractors were to include homemade tractors but were not
to include implements having built-in power units such as self-
propelled combines, powered buck rakes, etc. Pickup and truck-
trailer combinations were to be reported as motortrucks. School
buses were not to be reported, and jeeps and station wagons were
to be included as motortrucks or automobiles, depending on
whether used for hauling farm products or supplies, or as passenger
vehicles.

Farm labor. — The farm-labor inquiries for 1954, called for the
number of persons doing farmwork or chores on the place during
a specified calendar week. Since starting dates of the 1954 enumer-
ation varied by areas or States, the calendar week to which the
farm-labor inquiries related varied also. The calendar week was
September 26-October 2 or October 24-30. States with the
September 26-October 2 calendar week were: Arizona, California,
Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky.
Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana,
Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico,

423021—57-

FARMERS AND FARM PRODUCTION

New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania,
Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont,
Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. States with the October
24-30 calendar week were : Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia,
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North
Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Farmwork was to include any work, chores, or planning necessary
to the operation of the farm or ranch business. Housework,
contract construction work, and labor involved when equipment
was hired (custom work) were not to be included.

The farm-labor information was obtained in three parts:
(1) Operators working, (2) unpaid members of the operator's family
working, and (3) hired persons working. Operators were consid-
ered as working if they worked 1 or more hours; unpaid members
of the operator's family, if they worked 15 or more hours; and
hired persons, if they worked any time during the calendar week
specified. Instructions contained no specifications regarding age
of the persons working.

Regular and seasonal workers. — Hired persons working on
the farm during the specified week were classed as "regular"
workers if the period of actual or expected employment was 150
days or more during the year, and as "seasonal" workers if the
period of actual or expected employment was less than 150 days.
If the period of expected employment was not reported, the
period of employment was estimated for the individual farm
after taking into account such items as the basis of payment,
wage rate, expenditures for labor in 1954, and the type and
other characteristics of the farm.

Specified farm expenditures. — The 1954 Census obtained data
for selected farm expense items in addition to those for fertilizer
and lime. The expenditures were to include the total specified
expenditures for the place whether made by landlord, tenant, or
both.

Expenditures for machine hire were to include any labor in-
cluded in the cost of such machine hire. Machine hire refers to
custom machine work such as tractor hire, threshing, combining,
silo filling, baling, ginning, plowing, and spraying. If part of the
farm products was given as pay for machine hire, the value of the
products traded for this service was to be included in the amount
of expenditures reported. The cost of trucking, freight, and
express was not to be included.

Expenditures for hired labor were to include only cash pay-
ments. Expenditures for housework, custom work, and contract
construction work were not to be included.

Expenditures for feed were to include the expenditures for
pasture, salt, condiments, concentrates, and mineral supplements,
as well as those for grain, hay, and mill feeds. Expenditures for
grinding and mixing feeds were also to be included. Payments
made by a tenant to his landlord for feed grown on the land rented
by the tenant were not to be included.

Expenditures for gasoline and other petroleum fuel and oil were
to include only those used for the farm business. Petroleum
products used for the farmer's automobile for pleasure or used
exclusively in the farm home for heating, cooking, and lighting
were not to be included.

Crops harvested. — The information on crops harvested refers
to the acreage and quantity harvested for the 1954 crop year. An
exception was made for land in fruit orchards and planted nut
trees. In this case, the acreage represents that in both bearing
and nonbearing trees and vines as of October and November 1954.

Hay. — The data for hay includes all kinds of hay except soy-
bean, cowpea, sorghum, and peanut hay.

livestock and poultry. — The data on the number of livestock
and poultry represent the number on hand on the day of enumera-

tion (October-November 1954). The data relating to livestock
products and the number of livestock sold relate to the sales made
during the calendar year 1954.

LABOR RESOURCES

The data for labor resources available represent estimates based
largely on Census data and developed for the purpose of making
comparisons among farms of various size of operations. The
labor resources available are stated in terms of man-equivalents.

To obtain the man-equivalents the total number of farm opera-
tors as reported by the 1954 Census were adjusted for estimated
man-years of work off the farm and for the number of farm opera-
tors 65 years old and over. The farm operator was taken to rep-
resent a full man-equivalent of labor unless he was 65 years or
older or unless he worked at an off-farm job in 1954.

The man-equivalent estimated for farm operators reporting spec-
ified amounts of off -farm work were as follows:

Estimated
Days worked off the farm in 1954 man-equivalent

1-99 days 0.85

100-199 days . 50

200 days and over . 15

The man-equivalent for farm operators 65 years of age and older
was estimated at 0.5.

Man-equivalents of members of the farm operator's family were
based upon Census data obtained in response to the question
"How many members of your family did 15 or more hours of farm
work on this place the week of September 26-October 2 (or, in
some areas, the week of October 24-30) without receiving cash
wages?" Each family worker was considered as 0.5 man-equiva-
lent. This estimate provides allowance for the somewhat higher
incidence of women, children, and elderly persons in the unpaid
family labor force.

In addition, the number of unpaid family workers who were
reported as working 15 or more hours in the week of September
26-October 2 was adjusted to take account of seasonal changes in
farm employment. Using published and unpublished findings of
the U. S. Department of Agriculture and State Agricultural Col-
leges, and depending largely upon knowledge and experience with
the geographic areas and type of farming, each author deter-
mined the adjustment factor needed to correct the number of
family workers reported for the week of September 26-October 2
to an annual average basis.

Man-equivalents of hired workers are based entirely upon the
expenditure for cash wages and the average wage of permanent
hired laborers as reported in the 1954 Census of Agriculture.

Value of or investment in livestock. — Numbers of specified
livestock and poultry in each subregion were multiplied by a
weighted average value per head. The average values were com-
puted from data compiled for each kind of livestock for the 1954
Census of Agriculture. The total value does not include the value
of goats. (For a description of the method of obtaining the value
of livestock, see Chapter VI of Volume II of the reports for the
1954 Census of Agriculture.)

Value of investment in machinery and equipment. — The data
on value of investment in machinery and equipment were developed
for the purpose of making broad comparisons among types and
economic classes of farms and by subregions. Numbers of specified
machines on farms, as reported by the Census, were multiplied by
estimated average value per machine. Then the total values ob-
tained were adjusted upward to provide for the inclusion of items
of equipment not included in the Census inventory of farm
machinery.

INTRODUCTION

XI

The estimates for average value of specified machines and the
proportion of total value of all machinery represented by the
value of these machines were based largely on published and un-
published data from the "Farm Costs and Returns" surveys con-
ducted currently by the Agricultural Research Service, U. S.
Department of Agriculture.1 Modifications were made as needed
in the individual chapters on the basis of State and local studies.
The total estimated value of all machinery for all types and
economic classes of farms is approximately equal to the value of
all machinery as estimated by the U. S. Department of Agriculture.

Value of farm products sold, or gross sales. — Data on the
value of the various farm products sold were obtained for 1954 b\
two methods. First, the values of livestock and livestock prod-
ucts sold, except wool and mohair; vegetables harvested fur sale;
nursery and greenhouse products; and forest products were
obtained by asking each farm operator the value of sales. Second,
the values of all other farm products sold were computed. For the
most important crops, the quantity sold or to be sold was obtained
for each farm. The entire quantity harvested for cotton and
cottonseed, tobacco, sugar beets for sugar, hops, mint for oil, and
sugarcane for sugar was considered sold. The quantity of minor
crops sold was estimated. The value of sales for each crop was
computed by multiplying the quantity sold by State average
prices. In the case of wool and mohair, the value of sales was
computed by multiplying the quantity shorn or clipped by the
State average prices.

Gross sales include the value of all kinds of farm products sold.
The total does not include rental and benefit, soil conservation,
price adjustment, Sugar Act, and simitar payments. The total

does include the value of the landlord's share of a crop removed
from a farm operated by a share tenant. In most of the tables,
detailed data are presented for only the more important sources
of gross sales and the total for the individual farm products
or sources will not equal the total as the values for the less impor-
tant sources or farm products have been omitted. (For a detailed
statement regarding the reliability and method of obtaining the
value of farm products sold, reference should be made to Chapter
IX of Volume II of the reports for the 1954 Census of Agriculture.)

Livestock and livestock products sold. — The value of sales for
livestock and livestock products includes the value of live animals
sold, (laity products sold, poultry and poultry prodvicts sold, and
the calculated value of wool and mohair. The value of bees,
honey, fur animals, goats, and goat milk is not included.

The value of dairy products includes the value of whole milk and
cream sold, but does not include the value of butter and cheese,
made on the farm, and sold. The value of poultry and products
includes the value of chickens, broilers, chicken eggs, turkeys,
turkey eggs, ducks, geese, and other miscellaneous poultry and
poultry products sold. The value does not include the value
of baby chicks sold.

Crops sold. — Vegetables sold includes the value of all vegetables
harvested for sale, but does not include the value of Irish potatoes
and sweetpotatoes.

The value of all crops sold includes the value of all crops sold
except forest products. The value of field crops sold includes the
value of sales of all crops sold except vegetables, small fruits and
berries, fruits, and nuts.

i Farm Costs and Returns. 1955 (with comparisons). Agriculture Information Bulletin No. 15S, Agricultural Research Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture, June 1956.

CHAPTER IV
POULTRY PRODUCERS AND POULTRY PRODUCTION

i

CONTENTS

Page

Introduction 5

Types of poultry enterprises 6

Egg product ion 6

Size of flock 7

Trend in size of flock 9

Prices of eggs compared with prices of feed 9

Production of broilers 111

Trend of production. 11

Capital requirements.- 12

Broiler clucks 12

Prices of live broilers compared with retail prices of

broilers and other meats 12

Prices of broilers compared with prices of feed 13

Trends in feed efficiency 13

Production of turkeys and other poultry products 14

Turkeys 14

Ducks 15

Geese , 16

MAPS AND
Page

Number of chickens on hand and chickens sold for the

United States, Censuses of 1910 to 1954

Value of poultry and poultry products sold, dollars, 1954 —
Percent of farms reporting chickens on hand for the United

Slates: 1910-1954

Chickens on hand, number over 4 months old, 1954

Chicken eggs sold, dozens, 1954

Dozens of chicken eggs sold, by States: 1954

Percent of farms reporting chickens and percent of total
chickens on hand, by size of flock, for commercial farms,
for the. United States and three geographic divisions:

1954

Commercial hroileis: Number produced for the United

States and geographic areas: 1934-1955

Average a.djusted retail price per pound and average farm
price per pound for broilers, by months, based on 3-month
moving average, for the United States: 1953 to 1956

11

13

Poultry far 1 1 is

Importance of poultry farms

Important poultry areas

Characteristics of poultry farms by economic class of

farm

Size of poultry farms

Tenure and age of operator

Broiler production in poultry subregions

Labor use and gross sales per man-equivalent

Work off farm . _

farm mechanization and home conveniences

Production expenses

Measures of efficiency levels of the poultry business..

CHARTS

Average retail price per pound of selected kinds of meats, by
months, based on 3-month moving average, for the

United States: 1953 to 1956

Average retail price per pound of broilers in three cities

based on 3-month moving average: 1953 to 1956

Trend of feed and broiler prices in the United States: 1947-

1956

Turkeys raised, number, 1954

Poultry areas, United States: 1954

Number of broilers sold in poultry subregions: 1954

Number of broilers sold in poultry subregions: 1954

Number of broilers sold, for subregions 73, 74, and 82: 195 1
Number of broilers sold, for subregions 115, 116, and 117:

1954

Number of broilers sold, for subregion 119: 1954

TABLES
Table—

1.— Value of livestock- and livestock products sold, for the United States and geographic divisions: 1954

2. — Percentage of farms with chickens, by geographic divisions: 1910 to 1954

3.— Distribution of farms reporting and number of chickens on hand, 4 months old and over, among commercial farms, part-time,

and residential farms, for the United States and geographic divisions: 1954

4.— Percent distribution of commercial farms reporting and number of chickens on hand, 4 months old and over, by size of flock, for

the United States and geographic divisions: 1954

5. — Farms reporting and number of chickens on hand, by size of flock, for the United States: 1930 to 1954 _

6.— Percent distribution of farms reporting chickens on hand, by size of flock, for the United States and selected geographic

divisions: 1930 to 1954

7. — Egg-feed price ratios for the United States: 1940 to 1954

8. — Number of farms reporting and dozen eggs sold, by size of flock, for the United States: Censuses of 1930 to 1954 _ _

9. — Number of broilers sold in 13 leading producing States: 1954

10. — Number of broilers sold, from 100 ranking counties: 1954

11. — Farms reporting broilers, by number sold: 1954

12. — Commercial broilers — Number produced for the United States and geographic divisions: 1934 to 1955

13.— United States average prices of live broilers per pound, and broiler ration per hundred pounds, by months and annual averages:

January 1947 through September 1956

14.— Broiler-feed price ratios, United States, by months: January 1947 through September 1956...

15. — Estimated average pounds of feed fed to broilers per bird, United States: Year beginning October 1, 19:53 to 1955. .

16. — Number of turkeys raised in 16 leading States: 1954

17. — Percent distribution of farms reporting turkeys raised, by number raised, for the United States and selected States: 1939 to

1954 1

3

Page
16

16

16

19
20
21
26

27
27
27
29
32

Page

13

14

14
15
17
17
18
18

19
19

Page
5

5

8
S

9
9
9

10
10
11
11

12

13
14
14

15

4 CONTENTS

TABLES— Continued

Table— Pag»

18. — Number of turkeys, ducks, and geese raised in the United States: 1929 to 1954 15

19. — Number and use of resources for all commercial farms, and all poultry farms in selected subregions: 1954 16

20. — Poultry farms as a percent of all commercial farms, by subregions: 1954 16

21. — Distribution of selected resources on all poultry farms and on poultry farms in selected poultry subregions, by economic class

of farm: 1954 19

22. — Distribution of all commercial and poultry farms by size of farm: 1954 20

23. — Percent distribution of poultry farms, gross sales, and total investment, by economic class of farm, for selected subregions: 1954_ 20

24. — Operators of poultry farms, by tenure of operator: 1954 20

25. — Percent distribution of farm operators in each economic class of farm, by age, for all poultry farms in selected subregions: 1954- _ 21

26. — Source of farm income on poultry farms, by economic class of farm, for selected poultry subregions: 1954 21

27. — Land use on poultry farms, by economic class of farm, for selected subregions : 1954 23

28. — Percent poultry farms are of all commercial farms, by size of farm, for selected poultry subregions: 1954 25

29. — Percent distribution of operators of poultry farms in each economic class, by age, for selected poultry subregions: 1954 25

30. — Source of labor on poultry farms, by economic class of farm, for selected poultry subregions: 1954 26

31. — Average number of livestock and poultry per farm, for poultry farms, by economic class of farm, for selected poultry sub-
regions: 1954 27

32. — Gross sales and specified expenditures per farm, for poultry farms, by economic class of farm, for selected poultry subregions:

1954 28

33. — Work off the farm and other income for poultry farms, by economic class of farm, for selected poultry subregions: 1954 29

34. — Selected facilities and equipment for poultry farms, by economic class of farm, for the United States and for selected poultry

subregions : 1954 31

35. — Selected measures of efficiency for poultry farms, by economic class of farm, for selected poultry subregions: 1954 33

POULTRY PRODUCERS AND POULTRY PRODUCTION

William P. Mortenson

INTRODUCTION

The place of poultry in American agriculture today is vastly
different from what it was several decades ago. Great changes
have occurred in tnb number of poultry on farms and in the meth-
ods of production, the distribution of poultry production, and the
demand for poultry and poultry products.

From the time of early settlement until about 40 years ago, a
poultry enterprise was found on virtually every farm. It was
traditionally a minor sideline associated with such farm operations
as the production of cash grain, livestock, dairy products, or
cotton. Poultry meat was mainly the byproduct of egg produc-
tion. Chickens that were no longer laying eggs at a satisfactory
rate were sold for meat and the cockerels that were raised with
the pullets were disposed of as fryers or roasters. A limited
number of chickens were grown especially for meat. Poultry
meat from these sources was supplemented with turkeys, ducks,
and geese.

Evidences of decisive changes began to appear in the early
1930's. At about that time four developments began to take
place in the poultry industry. (1) With a greater emphasis on
flocks of commercial size, light breeds and strains of chickens
gradually replaced the meat breeds, for use in making replacements
in the laying flocks. (2) Feeding, breeding, and management
practices were so improved that more eggs were produced per
layer, so fewer layers were needed to supply the eggs that the
market demanded. (3) As the technique of "sexing" chicks
became perfected, only the female chicks were sold by the hatch-
eries. The male chicks were destroyed under the assumption that
it was unprofitable to grow them out. (4) Chicken broilers were
beginning to claim a profitable part in the industry.

In 1910, 5.6 of the 6.4 million farms in the United States, or 88
percent of all farms, kept chickens. Since then the number of
farmers with chickens has declined steadily; in 1954, only 71
percent of the 4.8 million farms reported chickens.

The proportion of farms with chickens declined in all geographic
regions. However, the change in the percentage of farms report-
ing chickens was greatest in New England and the smallest in the
West South Central States.

In New England, 79.5 percent of all farms reported chickens in
1910 as compared with only 46.2 percent in 1954. In the East
South Central States, 85.9 percent of the farms had chickens in
1910 as compared with 79.5 percent in 1954.

Although the number of farms keeping chickens has declined
during the last 45 years, the total number of chickens has increased
more than 50 percent.

Statistics give substantial evidences of the changes during these
several decades. Aside from chickens, the 1910 Census of Agri-
culture shows that 870,000 farmers had turkeys, 060,000 had
geese, and 500,000 had ducks. The combined number of ducks
and geese on farms added up to 7)i million compared with 3%
million turkeys. During the 44-year period from 1910 to 1954
the numbers of ducks and geese increased slowly while the number
of turkeys mounted. In 1954, only 11 million ducks and 1.7
million geese were raised compared with 63 million turkeys — heavy
and light breeds.

In 1954, farm sales from poultry and poultry products, as
reported in the Census, totaled about 2 billion dollars for the
United States. Of this amount, $917 million came from the sale
of chicken eggs, $558 million from broilers, $140 million from other
chickens sold, and $304 million for the sale of turkeys, ducks, geese,
and miscellaneous poultry and their eggs. This is equal to 28
percent of the income from sales of all farm animals (cattle, hogs,
sheep, horses, and mules) and equal to 58 percent of the income
from tin- sale of dairy products.

Poultry production is more important in some parts of the
country than in others. In New England, the sale of poultry
and poultry products accounted for 84 percent of the total income
from livestock and poultry, and their products in 1954; in the
Middle Atlantic States, 64 percent. On the other hand, in the
Mountain States poultry sales accounted for only 6 percent of the
total sales of livestock, poultry, and poultry products.

Table 2. — Percentage of Farms with Chickens, by Geographic
Divisions: 1910 to 1954

Geographic division

1910

1920

1925

1930

1935

1940

1945

1950

1954

United States

87.7

90.5

86.4

85.4

85.6

84.5

83. 6

78.3

71.4

New England

Middle Atlantic

East North Central

West North Central

South Atlantic

East south Central

West South Central

Mountain..

Pacific

79.5
91.4
93.0
90.7
87.3

85.9
85.6
69. 1

77.9

81.7
91.7
94.1
93.3
90.8

90. (I
89.0
80.6
82. 1

77.6
87.7
91.2
91 5
87.0

85.2
82.8

71. 6
72.0

72.8
86.9
91.2
92. 2
85^8

83.4
82.2
7.5. 3
69.2

64.5
82.0
88.5
89.1
87.5

87.1
87.2
74.4
68.9

53.6
76. 2
84. 3
88.2
87.0

ss 3
89.4
73. 0
64.7

55.6
74. 1
83.4
17. 7
84. 5

87.4
88.8
77.7
69.1

49.2
67. 5
75.3
.11 2
81.5

85 :;
82.6
69. 7
59. 3

46.2
61.0
67.7
76.5
73.4

79. 5

75.5
61.8
48.0

Table 1. — Value of Livestock and Livestock Products Sold, for the United States and Geographic Divisions: 1954

Value of livestock and livestock products sold (dollars)

Value of poultry and poultry
products sold as a percent of—

Geographic division

Total i

Poultry and
poultry
products

Dairy 2

Livestock and livestock products other than —

All live-
stock and
livestock
products

Live-
stock and
livestock
products
exclud-
ing dairy

Dairy and
poultry

Dairy

products

Poultry and
poultry
products

Dairy
products

United States _

12. 292. 424. 309

1.918,935,878

3. 334, 066, 274

7.039,422,157

8, 958, 358. 035

10.373,488.431

15.6

21.4

57.6

353,944.583
1,032,563,394
2.750,972.615
3,825,467,516

912,969.766

526, 774. 850

926.171,273

905,142,006

1,058,418,246

143. 149. 632
273, 185, 605
285, 625, 679
329. 726. 452
350, 653, 386

93, 093, 607
155.131.905

46, 032. 090
242, 337, 522

184, 109,033
603,689,096
955, 260, 190
532.111,199
257. 719, 027

146,984,760

174, 110,453
121.327.106
358, 755, 410

26,685,918

155. 688, 693

1, 510. 086, 746

2. 963, 629, 865

304, 597, 353

286, 696, 483

596,928,915
737.712.17(1
457,325,314

169,835,550

42.1,874, 29S

1,795,712,425

3,293.356.317

655, 250, 739

379. 790. 090
752,01111,12(1
713.114.960
699,662,836

210,794.951

759, ;!77. 7.19

2, 46.5, 346. 936

3,495,741,064

562, 316, 380

433,611,24!
771.039.308
859, 109. 976
816,080,724

2.5 i
26.5
10.4
8 6
31 4

17.7

16, 7

5.1

22.9

84. 3
63. 7

1 5. 9
111. 0
53. 5

24.5

20.6

5.9

34.6

77.8

Middle Atlantic

4.5. 3

East North Central ..

29.9

West North Central .._

62.0

136.1

East South Central

West South Central-

63.3
89.1

38.0

Pacific

67. 5

1 Includes cattle, hogs, sheep, horses, mules, wool, mohair, chickens, chicken eggs, other poultry and poultry products, milk, and cream,
only includes cattle, hogs, sheep, horses, mules, wool, and mohair.

2 Milk and cream.

423021—57 3

The livestock and livestock products

FARMERS AND FARM PRODUCTION

NUMBER OF CHICKENS ON HAND AND CHICKENS SOLD FOR
THE UNITED STATES, CENSUSES OF 1910 TO 1954

MILLIONS
400 600

Not Avoiioble
Chickens on hand
Chickens iold

Figure 1

V),V-^ VALUE OF POULTRY AND POULTRY PRODUCTS SOLD

DOLLARS. 1954

Figure 2

PERCENT OF FARMS REPORTING CHICKENS ON HAND FOR THE UfflTEO STATES 1910- IBM

X"

K

s

CHICKENS ON HAND
NUMBER OVER 4 MONTHS 0LD.1954

Figure 3

Figure 4

TYPES OF POULTRY ENTERPRISES

The three important types of poultry enterprises are (1) the
production of eggs, {2) the production of broilers, and (3) the pro-
duction of turkeys and other poultry products. Each of these
types have significant characteristics and differ in their geographic
distribution.

Egg Production

Although there has been a definite trend toward fewer and larger
laying flocks on farms, the production of eggs is scattered rather
widely over the country. Approximately three-fourths of our
farms have a laying flock but on many farms egg production is
not large — it is only a sideline.

Except for heavy concentrations of chickens in New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, and California, chickens 4 months old and over are
distributed over all parts of the United States. Sales of eggs are
more concentrated than the number of chickens. Almost half of
all eggs sold are produced in five States — California, Minnesota,
Iowa, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

The East North Central, West North Central, and Middle
Atlantic geographic divisions lead in total sales of chicken eggs.
The largest number of broilers is produced in the South Atlantic
States. Production of eggs has become a highly commercialized
farm operation in some areas with a continued growth of larger
flocks concentrated into specific areas, but it continues to be
a sideline on many farms throughout a large part of the country.
Fewer than 5 percent of all farms have poultry as the main enter-
prise. On 95 percent of the farms the poultry is secondary to
other enterprises, with flocks of relatively few laying hens.

CHICKEN EGGS SOLD

DOZENS. 1954

Figure 5

POULTRY PRODUCERS AND POULTRY PRODUCTION

DOZENS OF CHICKEN EGGS SOLD, BY STATES: 1954

MILLIONS OF DOZENS
0 50 100 150 200 250

NEW ENGLAND

Me

1

N H

Vt

3

Mass

i

R.I.

3

Conn.

i

MIDDLE

ATLANTIC

N.Y.

N J

1

Pa

1

EAST n

ORTH CENTRAL

Ohio

"'•• 1

3

Ind

III.

Mich

1

Wis.

1

WEST r

ORTH CENTRAL

Minn.

Iowa

.... \

Mo.

:n

N.Dak.

Z3

J

S.Dak.

Nebr.

i

Kan.

i

SOUTH

ATLANTIC

Del.

1

Md.

§3

Va.

i

W.Vo.

1

N.C.

\

S.C

m

Ga.

• i

Fla.

EAST S

OUTH CEN

TRAL

Ky

=13

Tenn.

i

Ala

zza

Miss.

— i

WEST SOUTH CENTRAL

Ark.

~3

Lo.

3

Okla.

Tex.

■,

MOUNT

UN

Mont.

3

Idaho

m

Wyo.

1

Colo.

m

NMex.

]

Ariz.

9

Utah

TUP

Nev.

3

PACIFI

Wash.

; J

Oreg.

73

Calif.

, —■

1

1 1 1 1 1 54C-57

Figure G

On the 4,782,416 farms in the United States, 2.4 million, or
51 percent, have flocks below 100; on these farms most of the
eggs and chickens are consumed on the farms where produced.
Almost nine-tenths of the chickens that are 4 months old and
over are on commercial farms. The other 10 percent are 011 part-
time and residential farms. In the South Atlantic, East South
Central, and West South Central geographic divisions almost
40 percent of the farms that report chickens 4 months old and
over, on hand, are on noncommercial farms. Those farms account
for about 25 percent of the total number of chickens on hand.

Size of flock. — Table 4 shows the variation in size of flock in
different parts of the country. The percentage of farms reporting
chickens and the percentage of total chickens on hand, by size
of flock, for the United States and for three selected geographic
divisions are shown in figure 7. Even though the small farm
flocks are still common in all areas, a large proportion of the
chickens on hand are in the larger flocks of 400 or more. For the
United States, 63 percent of the farms reporting chickens have
flocks of under 100 but these farms account for only 15 percent of
the chickens on hand. Only about 6 percent of the farms report
over 400 chickens on hand but these farms have 44 percent of the
chickens. In the New England States, 56 percent of the farms
report fewer than 100 chickens but account for only 3 percent of
the total chickens; the great proportion of the chickens are in
flocks of 400 or more. The 29 percent of the farms that have 400
or more chickens account for 92 percent of all the chickens in
New England.

PERCENT OF FARMS REPORTING CHICKENS AND PERCENT
OF TOTAL CHICKENS ON HAND. BY SIZE OF FLOCK.FOR
COMMERCIAL FARMS, FOR THE UNITED STATES AND
THREE GEOGRAPHIC DIVISIONS: 1954

SIZE OF FLOCK r

UNITED STATES

UNDER 100

PERCENT
40 60

100 TO 399

400 AND 0VER W//////////////////^

NEW ENGLAND
UNDER 100

100 TO 399

400 AND OVER

100 TO 399

400 AND OVER

100

EAST NORTH CENTRAL
UNDER 100

100 TO 399

400 AN0 0VER W///////////A

SOUTH ATLANTIC
UNDER 100

PERCENT OF FARMS REPORTING

PERCENT OF TOTAL CHICKENS
»40-irl

Figure 7

Table 3.-

FARMERS AND FARM PRODUCTION

-Distribution of Farms Reporting and Number of Chickens on Hand, 4 Months Old and Over, Among Commercial
Farms, Part-time, and Residential Farms, for the United States and Geographic Divisions: 1954

All farms

Commercial farms

Other farms '

Farms
reporting

Number of

chickens 4

months old

and over

Farms re-
porting as
a percent-
age of all
farms

Number of
chickens
as a per-
centage of
total for
all farms

Part-time

Residential

Geographic division

Farms re-
porting as
a percent-
age of all
farms

Number of
chickens as
a percent-
age of total
for all
farms

Farms re-
porting as
a percent-
age of all
farms

Number of
chickens as
a percent-
age of total
for all
farms

3, 437, 491

383. 970, 844

70.0

88.7

11.5

5.6

18.5

38, 550
158,287
544. 101
696, 367
632, 534

C30. 478
507. 990
111,182
118,002

15,384,386
51, 138, 685
73, 232. 252
109. 005, 263
38, 528, 982

27, 105, 797

29, 282, 688
9,729,916

30, 562, 875

61.2
68.7
79.2
87.9
59.6

62.3
59.4
77.3
62.1

93.6
93.3
90.5
95.2
77.6

72.6
74.6
87.7
93.0

12.8
13.2
9.7
5.5
13.2

14.1
15.0
9.6
14.5

3.3

4.0
5.4
2.7
9.5

11.8
12.0
6.3
3.6

25.7
17.9
11.0
6.6
27.1

23.6
25.6
13.0
23.4

2 3

3 9

West North Central

2.0

12.6

East South Central.. -

West South Central

15.4
13.1

5.0

2.8

1 Data ore not shown for abnormal farms.

Table 4. — Percent Distribution of Commercial Farms Reporting and Number of Chickens on Hand,
Over, By Size of Flock, for the United States and Geographic Divisions: 1954

4 Months Old and

Size of flock

All farms with chickens.
Farms with —

Under 50 chickens

50 to 99 chickens

100 to 199 chickens..

200 to 399 chickens

400 to 799 chickens

800 to 1 ,599 chickens

1,600 to 3,199 chickens

3,200 chickens and over

Percentage distribution in each geographic division

United
States

Farms
report-
ing

100.0

44.8
17.8
17.8
13.5

4.0
1.2
0.5
0.3

Num
ber of
chick-
ens

100.0

7.4

8.0

16.3

24.3

14.3
9.1

New
England

Farms

report

ing

100.0

44.0
12.0

7.7
7.4

9.0
8.8
6.7
4.3

Num-
ber of
chick
ens

100.0

1.6
1.2
1.6
3.3

7.8
15.8
25.0
43.7

Middle
Atlantic-

Farms
report-
ing

100.0

29.9
13.6
15.5
15.7

11.9
6.9
4.0
2.6

Num-
ber of
chick
ens

100.0

1.6
2.0
4.6

14.3
16.9
20.5
30.7

East North
Central

Farms
report-
ing

100.0

23.2
20.4
29.4
20.6

5. 1
1.0
0.2
0.1

Num

ber of

chick

ens

100.0

3.9

8.7

25.1

33.7

16.5
6.4
3.4
2.4

West North
Central

Farms
report-
ing

100.0

18.4
16.3
29.2
28.7

6.7
0.7
0.1
(Z)

Num-
ber of
chick
ens

100.0

2.9

6.3

23.1

43.1

19. 1
3.9
0.8
0.8

South
Atlantic

Farms
report-
ing

100.0

72.3
15.3
6.0

2.9

1.8
1. 1
0.4
0.2

Num

ber of

chick

ens

100.0

19.7
11.6
9.2
9.3

11.7

14.3
11.9
12.2

East South
Central

Farms

report

Ing

100.0

71.2
19.8
6.6
1.5

0.6
0.3

0. 1
(Z)

Num

ber of

chick

ens

100.0

32.7
24.0
15.5
7.3

6.1
5.4
3.2

5.8

West South
Central

Farms
report-
ing

100.0

60.0

20.1

12.4

5.5

1.4
0.5
0.1
(Z)

Num

ber of

chick

ens

100.0

19.6

17 2
21.4

18 8

6.4
3 3
3.7

Mountain

Farms
report-
ing

100.0

52.1
22.8
15.0
6.3

2.2
0.9
0.3
0.2

Num
ber of
chick-
ens

100.0

13.0
14.4
18.6
15.8

11.6
10.3
7.1
9.0

Pacific

Farms

report-

ing

100.0

60.2
10.6
6.1
5.2

5.3
5.7
4.3
2.6

Num-
ber of
chick-
ens

100.0

3.2
1.7
2.0
3.5

7.5
16.3
25.1
40.7

Z Less than 0.05 percent.

Table 5. — Farms Reporting and Number of Chickens on Hand, by Size of Flock, for the United States: 1930 to 1954

1930

1935

1940

1945

1950

1954^

Geographic division and size of flock '

Farms
reporting

Number of
chickens

Farms
reporting

Number of
chickens

Farms
reporting

Number of
chickens

Farms
reporting

Number of
chickens

Farms
reporting

Number of
chickens

Farms
reporting

Number of
chickens

United States

5, 372, 597

378, 878, 281

5. 833, 079

371, 603, 136

5. 150, 055

337, 949, 145

1,896,374

426, 654, 467

4, 215. 616

343. 108. 669

2, 406, 338

340 498, 127

Farms with—

2, 948, 635
1, 189, 082
859, 753
305, 791
69, 336
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)

Tfi7, 523, 123

77, 129. 196

109,050,204

74, 293, 947

50,881,811

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

3. 406, 319

1, 302, 928

803, 293

257, 171

63, 368

46,858

12, 752

3, 042

716

80. 193, 330
82, 350, 866
99, 761, 052
62,118.316
47,179,566
23, 322. 929
13, 241. 007
6, 494, 733
4, 120, 897

3.016,142

1. 100, 555

735, 831

237,010

60, 517

42,996

12,948

3,634

939

69, 579, 051

70, 505, 334
92, 586, 630
57. 273, 801
48, 004. 329
21. 465. 478
13, 542. 791

7. 762. 999
5, 233, 061

2, 429, 924

1, 075, 835

869, 533

113, 054

ins. ojs

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

59, 070, 984

67. 582, 944

110.276,403

101, 606, 877

88,117,259

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

2, 392. 400

810, 633

641, 951

282, 573

88,059

58, 349

18. 775

7,745

3,190

54. 921, 575
51,571.059
83, 937, 037
70. 701. 746
81, 977, 252
29. 578, 209
20. 001. 503
16, 509, 680
15, 887, 860

1, 077, 385

429, 049

427,317

325, 917

146,670

97, 238

29,305

12, 971

7,156

25,205,511

27, 100. 590
55 596 897

60 to 99 chickens

100 to 199 chickens...

200 to 399 chickens

82, 666, 993
149, 929, 136

400 to 799 chickens

48, 640, 832

800 to 1,699 chickens
1,600 to 3,199 chickens

30. 892. 223
29, 139, 114

3,200 chickens and over..

41, 256, 967

Percont di

stribution

United States

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100. 0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

Farms with —

54.9
22.1
16.0
5.7
1.3
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)

17.8
20.4
28.8
19.6
13.3

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

58.4
22.3
13.8
4.4
1.1
.8

.1

(Z)

21.6
22. 2

2<i! s

16.7
12.7
6.3
3.6
1.7
1. 1

58.6
21.4

14.3

-i ■;

1.2
.8
.3
.1
(Z)

20.6
20.9
27.4
16.9
14.2
6.4
4.0
2.3
1.5

49.6
22.0
17.8
8.4
2.2
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)

13.8
15.8
25.8
23.8
20.7

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

(NA)

56.8

19.2

15.2

6.7

2.1

1.4

.4

.2

.1

16.0
15.0
24.5
20.6
23.9
8.6
5.8
4.8
4.6

44.8

17.8

17.8

13.5

6.0

4.0

1.2

.5

.3

7.4

8.0

100 to 199 chickens

16.3

200 to 399 chickens

24.3

44.1

400 to 799 chickens

14.3

800 to 1,599 chickens...

9.1

1,600 to 3,199 chickens

8.6
12.1

NA Not available.

Z 0.05 percent or less.

i For 1954 and 1950, number of chickens on band. 4 months old and over; for 1945 and 1940, over 4 months old; and for 1935 and 1930, over 3 months old.

2 Commercial farms only.

POULTRY PRODUCERS AND POULTRY PRODUCTION

Table 6. — Percent Distribution of Farms Reporting Chickens
on Hand, by Size of Flock, for the United States and
Selected Geographic Divisions: 1930 to 1954

Geographic division and size of

Tercent distribution of farms reporting chickens

Dock '

1930

1935

1940

1945

1950

1954

100.0

54.9
22.1
16.0

5.7

13

(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)

100.0

58.4

22.3

13.8

4.4

1. 1

.8

2

A

(Z)

100.0

68. 6
21.4
14 3
4.6

1.2
.8
.3
.1
(Z)

100.0

49.6
22.0
17.8
8.4

2 2

(NA?
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)

100.0

66. 8
19.2
15.2
6.7

2.1
1.4

.4
o

A

100.0

Farms with—

54.2

50 to 99 chickens

100 to 199 chickens

200 to 399 chickens

17.3
14.3
10.0

4.3

400 to 799 chickens.

2.9

800 to 1,599 chickens

1,600 to 3,199 chickens.

3,200 chickens and over

.8
.4

loo.o

66.8
16.3
8.6
4.9

3 5

(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)

100.0

70.0
13.5
7.5
4.7

4.4
2.8
1.2
.3
.1

100.0

65.0
12.4
8.2
6.4

8.0
4.7
2.4

.7
.2

100.0

63.4
12.6
8.6

5.5

9.9

(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)

100.0

68.8
11.7
8.5
7.3

13 7
6.1
4.5
2.1
1.0

100.0

Farms with—

53.3

13.5

100 to 199 chickens- .

8.3

200 to 399 chickens

6.8

18.1

400 to 799 chickens- ..

6.0

800 to 1,599 chickens

5.4

1,600 to 3,199 chickens

3,200 chickens and over

4.3

2.5

East North Central ._

100.0

31.4
33.3
27.1

7.2

1.0

(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)

100.0

35.8
31.4

24.8
6.9

1.0
.9
. 1

(Z)

(Z)

100.0

38.9

30.5

23.8

6.0

.8
.7
.1

(Z)

(Z)

100.0

31.1
26.3
29.3
11.3

2.0
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)

100.0

36.1
26.1
26.8
9.3

1.7
1.4
.2
.1
(Z)

100.0

Farms with —

29.9

50 to 99 chickens,.

21.6

100 to 199 chickens

26.5

200 to 399 chickens

16.9

5.1

400 to 799 chickens-

4.1

800 to 1,599 chickens...

.8

1,600 to 3,199 chickens

3,200 chickens and over

2

(Z)'

Pacific

100.0

58.9
17.2
8.9
6.0

9.1

(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)

100.0

63.9
16.4
8.3

5.1

6.3
3.5
2.0

.6
.2

100.0

66.3
14.6

7.4
4.8

6.9

3.7

2.2

.8

.2

100.0

66.7
16.2
7.0
4.1

6.0

(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)

100.0

69.5
11.6
6.2
4.6

8.2
3.6
2.6
1.3
.6

ioo.o

Farms with —

67.8

50 to 99 chickens

ll.fi

100 to 199 chickens- .

5.7

200 to 399 chickens

4.0

400 chickens and over

400 to 799 chickens

800 to 1,599 chickens

11.0
3.7
3.3

1,600 to 3,199 chickens

3,200 chickens and over

2.5
1.4

NA Not available.
Z 0.05 percent or less.

1 For 1954 and 1950, number of chickens on hand, 4 months old and over; for 1945 and
1940, over 4 months old; and for 1935 and 1930, over 3 months old.

In the South Atlantic States, 88 percent of the farms have
flocks of less than 100 chickens and only 3 percent have flocks of
400 or more. This geographic division is mainly one of small
farm flocks so that egg production is not important as a com-
mercial farm enterprise.

Trend in size of flock. — During the last quarter century there
has been a distinct trend toward larger laying flocks in all parts of
the country. In 1930, 77 percent of the farms reported fewer
than 100 chickens on hand; in 1954, 71 percent. Only 7 percent
reported more than 200 or more chickens on hand in 1930, com-
pared with 14.3 percent in 1954. In New England, this change has
occurred at a more rapid rate than in the rest of the country.
More than 83 percent of the farms in New England reported
chickens in flocks of less than 100 in 1930 compared with 67 per-
cent in 1954.

The number of farms with flocks of more than 400 increased
rapidly over this 25-year period. Only 3.5 percent of the New
England farms reported flocks of over 400 in 1930, compared with
18.1 percent in 1954. Moreover, in 1954, 6.8 percent of the farms
reported flocks of more than 1,600 compared with less than 0.4
only 20 years earlier.

In the Pacific States the trend toward large flocks was not quite
so pronounced as in New England. In the East North Central
States the trend has not been so marked as in other areas.

Prices of eggs compared with prices of feed. — The price of eggs
compared with the price of feed was more favorable during the
5-year period 1950-1954 than during the 5-year period 1940-1944.
The ratio of the local market price of eggs to feed price was more
favorable in 1954 than for any year since 1940.

The production of eggs is being concentrated on the larger
specialized poultry farms.

In 1929, only 21 percent of the eggs sold were produced on farms
with 400 or more chickens on hand; by 1954, 56 percent of all eggs
sold came from farms with 400 or more chickens on hand and the
20,000 farms with 1,600 or more chickens on hand, produced 30

Table 7- — Egg-Feed Price Ratios for the
1940 to 1954

United States:

Year

Ratio of
cost of
poultry
egg-feed
to local
market
price of eggs
(pounds
of feed)

Year

Ratio of
cost of
poultry
egg-feed
to local
market
price of eggs
(pounds
of feed)

1940

11.5

13 5

14 2
14.5

11.5
13.4
11.3
11.1

1948 .

11 4

1941

1949

13.2

1950

10.3

1943

1951 .

12.0

1944

1952

10 0

1945

1953

12 3

1946

1954 .

9.4

1947

Source: Agricultural Marketing Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture.

Table 8. — Number of Farms Reporting and Dozen Eggs Sold, by Size of Flock, for the United States: Censuses of 1930 to 1954

Farms reporting eggs sold

Dozens of chicken eggs sold

Size of flock i

Number

Percent distribution

Number

Percent distribution

1954'

1949

1939'

1929

1954"

1949

1939'

1929

19M'

1949

1939 8

1929

1954 =

1949

1939'

1929

Total

1,391.734

2, 459, 984

4, 875, 472

3, 872, 482

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

2. 663. 454. 463

2, 483. 696. 061

2.391.091,510

1. 955, 459. 439

llHI n

100.0

100.0

100.0

Farms with —

Under 400 chickens

400 chickens and over

400 to 799 chickens

800 to 1,599 chickens

1,600 to 3,199 chickens

3,200 chickens and over...

400 to 999 chickens

1,000 to 2,499 chickens

2,500 chickens and over... .

1. 248. 347
143, 387
94, 444
28, 924
12, 924
7,095

(NA)
(NA)
(NA)

2, 372. 761
87, 223
58.197
18,650
7,495
2,881

(NA)
(NA)
(NA)

4,815,757
69, 715
42.413
12, 785
3,589
928

47. 725
10, 098
1,892

3, 804, 346
68,136
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)

57, 095
9.477
1,564

89.7
10.3
6.8
2.1
0.9
0.5

(NA)
(NA)
(NA)

96.5
3.5
2.4
0.8
0.3
0.1

(NA)
(NA)
(NA)

98.8
1.2
0.9
0.3
0.1

(Z)

1.0

0.2

(Z)

98.2
1.8

(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)

1.5
0.2

(Z)

1.158.590.290
1,504,864.173
409,333,605
305. 753. 883
322, 290, 945
467, 485, 740

(NA)
(NA)
(NA)

1. 654, 706, 249
828,989.812
282, 984, 008
212, 265. 553
176, 558. 654
157, 181, 597

(NA)
(NA)
(NA)

1,931.925,392
459, 166, 118
195, 208, 689
136,891.980
77, 885. 434
49, 180, 015

240. 874, 715
142. 648. 700
75, 642. 703

1, 539, 716. 822
415,742.617
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)

243. 716, 360
116,421,355
55, 604, 902

43.5
56.5
15.4
11.5
12.1
17. 6

(NA)
(NA)
(NA)

66.6
33.4
11.4
8.5
7.1
6.3

(NA)
(NA)
(NA)

80.8
19.2
8.2
5.7
3.3
2.1

10.1
6.0
3.2

78.7
21.3

(NA)
(NA)
(NA)
(NA)

12.5
6.0
2.8

NA Not available.
Z 0.05 percent or less.

' For Censuses of 1954 and 1950, number of chickens on hand, 4 months old and over; for 1940, over 4 months old; and for 1930, over 3 months old.

3 Data are for commercial farms only.

8 Data are for farms reporting and dozens of eggs produced.

10

FARMERS AND FARM PRODUCTION

percent of all eggs sold. Although there were 1,392,000 farms
reporting eggs sold in 1954, the 50,000 farms wUh 800 or more
chickens on hand, accounted for more than 40 percent of the total
sales. The 36,000 commercial poultry farms with 800 or more
chickens on hand in 1954, produced over one-third of all chicken
eggs sold.

Table 9. — Number of Broilers Sold in 13 Leading Producing
States: 1954

State

Number of
broilers sold

Percent of

United
States total

792,373.716

100.0

Total, 13 States . .

603, 582, 339

76 2

114, 369. 440
62, 337, 491
61, 590. 692
55, 711, 200
46, 094, 361

39, 561. 620
38, 275. 851
37, 044, 088
35, 463. 971

34, 390, 326
28, 650. 981
25,816,794
24, 275, 524

14.4

7.9

7.8

7.0

5.8

5 0

4.8

4.7

4.5

4.3

3.6

3 3

3. 1

Production of Broilers

From its beginning, the production of chicken broilers has been
a large-scale commercial operation rather than a sideline of gen-
eral farming or other types of farming. Growth of the broiler
enterprise largely replaced the production of spring fryers which,
up until a decade or so ago, was frequently carried on as a part
of the poultry enterprise on many farms. The production of
broilers is more definitely concentrated into specific areas and into
larger operations than is any of the other segments of the poultry
industry. The chief broiler areas have developed mainly in five
widely different parts of the United States: (1) Delaware- Mary-
land-Virginia ("Delmarva"), {2) Georgia and Alabama, (8)
Arkansas, (4) Texas, and (G) California. Within these groups of
States the industry is concentrated into relatively few counties.

The degree of the concentration is indicated by the value of
broiler production in the ranking broiler counties. More than 60
percent of the broiler production in this country comes from 100
counties. In those counties the number sold in 1954 varied from
58 million in Sussex County, Delaware, to around l}i million for
each of the lower 27 ranking counties.

In the more concentrated areas, broiler production is on such a
highly commercialized basis that it might perhaps be classed more
nearly as a rural manufacturing activity than as a farming opera-
tion. Production is highly specialized and mechanized; it occurs

Table 10. — Number of Broilers Sold, From 100 Ranking Counties: 1954

County

Farms re-
porting

Number of
broilers

Average
number
per farm
reporting

County

Farms re-
porting

Number of
broilers

Average
number
per farm
reporting

Total. 100 counties

26, 022

477.141,072

18,336

Grant, W. Va

388
182
165

197
296

215
71
175
183
30

117
104
130

208
270

160
150
180
168
101

130
88

108
73

169

96
242

72

5

100

183
35

117
66

105

148
164
94
69
79

47
63
89
71
39

104
168
85
81
70
113

3,184,772
3,114,663
3, 103, C04
3.091.C65
3, 000, 600

2.814.188
2,814,172
2, 795, 176
2,793,611
2, 771, 368

2,748.411
2. 667. 432
2, 600, 898
2. 540, 030
2, 445, 222

2, 442, 650
2.388,816
2.313,313
2, 266, 583
2, 222, 620

2.205,339
2,124,716
2,104,186
2,068.811
1,984,850

1,944,049
1,918.553
1,816.113
1, 780, 700
1, 765, 144

1,685.291
1, 672, 581
1, 650, 955
1, 627, 584
1,625,553

1,615,810
1, 591, 610
1, 575. 770
1, 570. 075
1,559,659

1, 550. 247
1,546,150
1, 538, 120
1, 505. 795
1,495,3S2

1,459,944
1,455,849
1,441.700
1,439.633
1,430,992
1,423,961

8,208

17,114

1,299
882

1,115
431
204

864

965

290

1,019

1,049

322
498
259
498
339

270
661
259
464
256

454
246
263
532
258

212

485
161
318
305

120
256
276
289
158

343
296
308
455
75

222
292
138

1.50
182

200
288
140
110

57,716,993
17.190.801
16,894,517
14, 887, 544
12,915,636

12,723.945
12,644.702
11,470.942
11.12.5.356
10, 959, 546

8,810.911
8,217.863
8,186,347
7.697.177
7, 136, 721

6, 988. 860
6, 352. 427
6,236,152
6,177.550
6, 006, 473

5, 999. 949
.5, 120. 676
5, 369. 962
4, 765. 7.52
4, 726. 973

4,712.338
4, 589, 314
4, 534. 472
4, 489. 682
4, 408, 438

4, 386, 346
4,343,117
4, 325. 239
4.314.270
4,143,014

4.124,882
3, 922, 026
3, 883, 480
3. 799, 244
3, 732, 585

3,630.115
3, .578. 484
3,480.316
3,458,199
3, 448, 858

3, 277, 463
3,230,140
3,206,234
3, 205, 325

44,432
19, 491
15,152
34.542
63.312

14, 727
13,103
39, 555
10,918
10,448

27, 363
16.502
31,608
15,456
21,052

25, 885
9.610
24, 078
13,314
23,463

13,216

22. 035
20, 418

8,958
18,322

22. 228

9,463

30, 030

. 14,118

14, 454

36, 553
16,965
1.5,671
14,928
26 222

12,026
13,250
12,609
8, 350
49, 768

16,352
12,255
2.5. 220

23, 055
18,950

16,387
11,216 "
22, 902
29, 139

15,691

10, 137

13, 089
39,636

Talbot, Md...

15, 972

Hall, Ga..._

Cobb, Ga

92, 379

23, 491

25, 648

12,212
9,056

Wnldo, Maine

Whitfield, Oa_ -

15, 267
15,925

Carroll, Ga.. -

Somerset, Md ... ._. .

12,852

13,492
21,371

Caroline, Md.

16,964

24, 145

Chatham, N. C

19,483

Cullman, Ala. _ _ .

Walker, Ala

28,340

1 1, 745

WilkeS N. C-

New London, Conn. _

20, 251

7,928

25,224

Hardy, W. Va

356, 140

Smith, Miss .

17,651

White, Ga

Jackson, Ga - .. _. ..

9,209

47,788

Kennebec, Maine _

14,111

24. 660

15, 481

Accomack, Va

10,918

10. 335

Moore, N. C

Franklin, Ga...

Rockingham, N. H._

16,764
22, 755

Randolph, N. C.

19, 743

Pendleton, W. Va

Aiken, S. C - 1

32.984

24. 542

San Bernardino, Calif

17,282

Pickens. Ga

21,208

Yell. Ark .

Hale, Ala

38, 343

Kent, Del... _

Washington, Ind ..

14,038

8,666

McDonald, Mo

16, 961

Fulton, Ga

17,773

Winston, Ala -

20,443

Fresno, Calif . .

12, 601

POULTRY PRODUCERS AND POULTRY PRODUCTION

11

on most farms within the limits of the broiler house. Very little
land is required; chicks, feed, and other production items are
nearly always purchased.

Broiler production is concentrated mostly on a relatively few
farms. Only 50,000 farms reported broilers sold, in 1954. More
than 98 percent of the broilers sold were from the 28,000 farms
each of which sold 8,000 or more in 19") 1.

Table 12 shows the broiler production by geographic divisions.
The South Atlantic produced 462 million; the South Central, 293
million; and the North Atlantic, 139 million, in 1955. These
three divisions produced 83 percent of the United States total of
slightly over a billion birds.

Trend of production. — Probably no farm enterprise has in-
creased so rapidly during the last two decades. From a small
beginning of some 34 million broilers in 1934 the production has
expanded to about 1.3 billion birds in 1956 — a 35-fold increase.
The development has been especially rapid since World War II.

A combination of full employment at favorable wages for
consumers and heavy food purchases by the Armed Services during
and after the war, created a powerful overall demand for food,
resulting in a pronounced advance in food prices, especially for
meat, including broiler meat.

Broiler prices were high before 1950, not only compared with
prewar years, but in relation to the price of feed as well. But
favorable prices for broilers, in relation to the price of feed, began
to change about 1950. Notwithstanding the decline in returns
to the producers, the trend of production continued upward
although at a somewhat reduced rate until 1955. Between 1955
and 1956, however, the increase was at a more rapid rate — an in-
crease of more than a fifth for the country as a whole.

The volume of broiler production was greatest in the South
Atlantic, South Central, and North Atlantic geographic divisions.
The rate of increase in production from 1934 to 1955 by geographic
divisions is shown in figure 8. (The data in figure 8 are in
millions of broilers. This type of chart is commonly referred to
as a "ratio chart" with three "decks" or levels. The bottom
level shows the figures in units. Thus, the figures on that level
are from 1 to 10 million. On the second level the figures are from
10 to 100 million, and on the top level fmn 100 to 1,000 million.
Hence, the line showing the United States production for 1954
and 1955 is slightly over 1,000 million. The amount of slope of
any line in figure 8 indicates the rate of increase.)

The South Atlantic, South Central, and North Atlantic di-
visions have had a more rapid rate of increase during the last 10
years than have the East North Central or the West North
Central divisions.

Table 11.- — Farms Reporting Broilers, by Number Sold: 1954

Farms reporting number of broilers sold as-

under 8.000...
8,000 to 15,999.

16.000 to 31,999.

32.1 KJ0 to 39,999.
40,000 to 49,999.

50,000 to 59,999.
60,000 to 69,999.
70.000 to 79,999.
80,000 and over

Number of farms

Total

Percent
distribution

22. 003

43.9

12, 483

24.9

9,747

19.5

1,822

3.6

1,662

3.1

790

1.6

655

1.3

337

0.7

695

1.4

COMMERICAL BROILERS NUMBER PRODUCED FOR THE UNITED STATES AN0 GEOGRAPHIC AREAS
1934-1955

Figure 8

Table 12. — Commercial Broilers — Number Produced for the United States and Geographic Divisions: 1934 to 1955

Geographic division

Number (thousands)

1934

1935

1936

1937

1938

1939

1940

1941

1942

1943

1944

United Slates .-

34,030

42, 890

53, 155

67,915

82,420

105, 630

142, 762

191,502

228,187

285, 293

274, 149

North Atlantic

6,300
5.700
1,700
13, 200
5. .'.01.1
1,570

7,345

6,415
1,800
18, 200
6, 650
2,480

8,660
7, 365
1,930
23,150
8,750
3,300

10, 360
7,970
2.070
32. 100
10, 700
4,715

12,110
9,030
2,280
39, 200
14,150
5,650

14,060
10. 650

4, 425
60, 600
19, 150

6,755

17. 000
13, 600

5,125
76, 900
22. 516

7,621

20, 300
17,350
5, 975
107, 660
30, 985
9,232

24,600
19,310
6,725
132,550
33, 835
11,167

32.210
24. 405
8, 237
162,800
42. 068
15,573

29,164

East North Central

21,656

West North Central

7, 906

South Atlantic

South Central

157, 148
30, 741

21, 534

Geographic division

Number (thousands)

1945

1946

1947

1948

1949

1950

1951

1952

1953

1964

1955

United States

305, 572

292, 527

310,168

370,515

513,296

631,458

788, an

800, 891

946, 533

1,047,798

1,078,264

North Atlantic

42, 903
29, 739
9.827

201,709
44, 690
33,644

35, 686
25, 245
8,242
160,647
40, 365
22, 343

34,648
26,388
7,801
175,228
39, 320
26, 783

46,813

31,984

13,014

192, 194

.-,0, Mil
29, 706

62,609
41,386
21,959

■.'.'..', 229
93,511
38, 702

79,119
52, 637
25,649
298, 129
123, 337
62,687

97, 186
64,942
32, 413
348, 724
178, 569
66, 767

106, 205
69,854
34, 863
368, 278
215,136
66, 556

123, 787
73,916
37, 178
405,917
237, 626
68,209

133,096

78,973

39. 974

448, 506

275. 958

71,241

139,083

76, 297

West North Central

38,281

461,830

South Central.

292, 758

70, 006

12

FARMERS AND FARM PRODUCTION

Capital requirements. — Capital requirements are high for a
broiler operation large enough to provide a satisfactory income
for a farm family. Most operators find it necessary to borrow
funds for both fixed and working capital. Fixed capital includes
mainly capital for land, buildings, and equipment. Short-time
or working capital includes feed, fuel, litter, chicks, and medicine.

Investment in buildings and equipment varies greatly from flock
to flock, depending upon the type and quality of building and the
amount of equipment. If automatic feeding and watering equip-
ment is used, the costs of equipment are naturally higher than if
manual equipment is used. But automatic equipment reduces
the costs of labor, especially on the larger operations.

As the capital requirement is relatively high, most broiler
operators have to borrow a considerable part of it. This is
especially true of the requirements for chicks and feed. The
method and extent of financing broiler production might be called
unique. A large proportion of the required capital is operating
capital, consisting of feed, chicks, medicine, fuel, and litter. As
the production period for a batch of broilers is about 10 to 12
weeks, short-term operating capital is needed in cycles during 3
or 4 production periods of the year. Peak requirements are
reached just before the broilers are marketed.

Few broiler growers have enough funds to finance a large-scale
operation and some of those who do prefer to be financed by
others rather than take all the risk themselves. Feed dealers and
others not engaged in farming often provide these funds. Financ-
ing is generally carried out under one of four methods: Open
account, share contract, flat fee, or labor contract. The most
common source of finance is through the dealer who supplies the
grower with feed. (See bulletin no. 470, October 1954, Agricul-
tural Experiment Station, Virginia Polytechnic Institute for a
description of method of farming.)

Broiler chicks. — Production of hatchery eggs for broiler chicks
is an important phase of the broiler industry. To supply the

chicks, hatcheries must obtain the necessary number of eggs from
broiler breeds and strains. The job of supplying eggs consists
not only of producing the eggs but also of doing experimental
breeding work necessary to develop the type of chick that will
have a high efficiency in feed conversion and will reach market
weight early.

In developing "breeding hens,*' consideration must also be
given to the development of a strain that will have a high rate of
lay in order that hatching eggs can be produced as cheaply as
possible.

Prices of live broilers compared with retail prices of broilers
and other meats. — Prices for broilers have dropped significantly
during the last 3 years. Figure 9 shows the trends of the farm
and retail prices of broilers from January 1953 through August
1956. To make for better comparison in the chart, the retail
prices were decreased by 25 percent to allow for actual shrinkage
in the process of dressing. With this adjustment, the trend of
price comparisons is somewhat more easily seen than if actual
retail prices were used.

It is significant that the two trend (straight) lines are almost
exactly parallel, showing that the farm prices of the live birds and
the retail prices of the "ready to cook" broilers have decreased
by a like amount since January 1953.

In figure 10 retail prices of round steak, rib roast, and broilers,
from January 1953 to September 1956, are compared. Prices of
round steak and rib roast declined in about the same degree.
Prices of broilers declined at a much more rapid rate than the
prices of round steak and rib roast and reached an all time low in
September 1956.

Even though prices for broilers are highly competitive there is a
distinct spread in retail prices between cities in some parts of the
country. Since January 1953, prices have been distinctly higher
in Seattle than in Minneapolis and much higher than in Washing-
ton, D. C. (See figure 11.)

Table 13. — United States Average Prices of Live Broilers per Pound, and Broiler Ration per Hundred Pounds, by Months

and Annual Averages: January 1947 Through September 1956

Year

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

Septem-
ber

October

Novem-
ber

Decem-
ber

Weighted
average

Cents pcr'pound. live weight of broilers

1947

1948

29.8
37.2
31.1
21.3
26.4

28.8
27.9
24.2
24.4
20.3

25.6
34.5
28.4
26.1
29.2

29.3
27.7
22.6
25.4
21.4

29.4
36.3
30.0
29.6
30.8

28.1
28.1
23.5
29.7
21.9

30.8
37.4
30.2
28.9
30.5

27.1
28.0
24.3
28.4
20.5

32.1
37.5
27.4
27.7
28.8

25.3
27.2
23.7
27.0
21.1

32.6

38.2
26.1
27.1
29.7

26.8
26.2
24.4
27.2
19.9

32.8
36.4
26.7
29.6
29.3

29.3

28.3
25.4
26.5
21.7

34.0
36.6
29.3
31.0
29.7

31.0
27.9
24.9
26.9
19.6

36.3
36.2
28.6
29.9
29.1

31.3
27.1
23.0
25.2
18.3

35.1

33.2
27.3
26.6
26.4

29.1
26.7
21.0
22.0

32.0
32.6
28.4
25.7
25.7

31.6

26.0
20.1
21.2

35.5
34.0
25.6
24.2
25.7

29.7
23.2
19.2
19.4

32.3

1949

1950 .-. .

1951

1952

28 8

1953

27 1

1954

23 1

1955

25 2

1956

Year

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

Septem-
ber

October

Novem-
ber

Decem-
ber

Average

Dollars per hundred pounds of feed

1947.
1948.
1949.
1950.
1951.

1952
1953
1954
1955
1956

4.65

4.55

4.80

4.95

4.90

5.05

5.20

5.45

5.65

6.80

5.85

5.95

6.15

5.95

5.85

5.85

5.80

6.75

5.70

5.30

5.10

4.95

4.90

4.95

4.90

4.80

4.80

4.85

4.85

4.80

4.90

5.00

4.95

4.85

4.75

4.75

4. 75

4.70

4.70

4.80

4.95

4.95

5.05

5.15

5.00

4.95

5.00

6.05

5.20

5.25

5.35

5.30

5.35

5.30

5.35

5.35

5.' 35

5.45

5.50

5.55

5. 60

5. 65

5.65

5.70

5.70

5.70

5.65

5.70

5.75

5.65

6.55

6.50

5.46

5.38

5.34

5.32

5.28

5.26

6.23

5.23

6.22

6.14

5.09

5.23

5.23

5.26

5.32

5.41

5.51

5.39

6.35

5.39

5.33

5.19

6.17

5.18

5.20

5.18

5.15

5.13

5.08

5.02

5.02

4.95

4.85

4.88

4.77

4.78

4.79

4.81

4.81

4.91

6.02

5.06

5.08

5.10

5.05

5.23
5.52
4.85
4.92
5.36

5.65
5.26
5.31
5. 00

Source: Agricultural Marketing Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture.

POULTRY PRODUCERS AND POULTRY PRODUCTION

13

AVERAGE AOJUSTED RETAIL PRICE PER POUND AND AVERAGE

FARM PRICE PER POUND FOR BROILERS, BY MONTHS, BASED

ON 3- MONTH MOVING AVERAGE,

FOR THE UNITED STATES 1953 TO 1956

(RETAIL PRICES DECREASED 25 PERCENT BECAUSE OF SHRINKAGE IN DRESSING)
CENTS PER
POUND
55

JFMAMJ JASONDJ F MAMJJ ASONDJFMAMJJASONDJ FMAUJ J A

1953 1954 1955 1956

-^ TRENO LINE FITTED 8Y INSPECTION 54C-I86

Sources Retail prices from US Bureau of Lobot Statistics
Form Prices from AMS, USDA

Figure 9

The trends of broiler prices compared with feed are shown in
Figure 12 and Table 13. Feed prices have been maintained at a
more-or-less constant level since 1949 while the trend of broiler
prices has continued downward except for relatively high peaks in
certain months of 1952 and 1955.

Prices of broilers compared with prices of feed. — The price of
broilers compared with the price of feed (the broiler-feed ratio) has
become less favorable to broiler growers since 1948. In that
year a pound of live broiler would buy 6.5 pounds of feed (1 to
6.5 ratio). With a few exceptions, the ratio continued to become
less favorable until 1954, when the annual average dropped to 1
to 4.3. That is, the price of a pound of live broiler was equivalent
to only 4.3 pounds of feed, compared with 6.5 pounds in 1948.
During 1955 the relationship improved somewhat, but in 1956 it
again grew less favorable and during the first 9 months averaged
only 1 to 4.1. The lowest ratio during that entire 10-year period
occurred in September 1956.

Trends in feed efficiency. — The rapid increase in efficiency in
broiler production has only partly offset the decline in the ratio of
broiler prices to feed prices, which has taken place since 1948. As
feed constitutes about two-thirds of the total cost of producing
broilers, feed efficiency is influential in the profitableness of produc-
tion.

During the last 25 years, the feed efficiency (pounds of feed per
pound of gain) has increased significantly. About 20 years ago,
sonic what more than 12 pounds of feed were required to produce
a 3-pound broiler. Now it can be produced on less than 9 pounds
of feed — a reduction of more than 25 percent in feed requirement.
The increase in feed efficiency was gradual until the late 1940's.
Since then it has been stepped up at a rapid rate. This increase

AVERAGE RETAIL PRICE PER POUND OF SELECTED KINDS

OF MEATS, BY MONTHS, BASED ON 3-MONTH MOVING

AVERAGE, FOR THE UNITED STATES 1953 TO 1956

JFMAMJJASONDJFMAMJJASONDJFMAMJJASONDJFMAMJJAS

1953 1954 1955 1956

^SEPTEMBER 1956 ACTUAL PRICES
^ TREND LINE FITTED BY INSPECTION
Source U S Buteou of Lobor Sfotlstics 34c-ib»

Figure 10

Table 14. — Broiler-Feed Price Ratios,1 United States, by

Months: January 1947 Through September 1956

Year

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

Septem-
ber

October

Novem-
ber

Decem-
ber

Average

1947

6.4
6.0
6.3
4.5
5.1

5.1
5.2
4.6
4.7
4.2

5.6
5.8
5.9
5.6
5.6

5.2
5.2
4.3
4.9
4.4

6.1
6.2
6.2
6.3
5.8

5.0
5.3
4.4
5.8
4.6

6.2
6.4
6.2
6.0
5.8

4.8
5.3
4.5
5.5
4.2

6.6
6.5
5.6
5.6
5.4

4.4
5.2
4.3

5.3
4.2

6.5
6.6

5.4
5.5
5.6

4.7
5.0
4.5
5.4
3.9

6.3
6.4

6.4
5.9
5.5

5.2
5.4
4.7
5.3
4.3

6.2
6.9
5.9
6.0
5.6

5.4
5.4
4.6
5.4
3.8

6.4
7.1
5.8
6.0
5.4

5.4
5.2
4.3
5.2
3.6

6.1
6.7
5.6
5.4
4.8

5.2
5.2
4.0
4.5

5.5
6.6
6.0
5.1
4.7

5.7
5.1
3.9

4.4

6.0
ti.9
5.4
4.8
4.6

5.4
4.5
3.7
4.1

1948

1949

1950-.- -

1951

1952

1953

1954...

1955

1956 -_

' Number of pounds of broiler masb equal in value to 1 pound of broiler— live weight.
423021—57 i

14

FARMERS AND FARM PRODUCTION

AVERAGE RETAIL PRICE PER POUND OF BROILERS IN
THREE CITIES BASED ON 3- MONTH MOVING
AVERAGE: 1953 TO 1956

JFMAMJJASONDJFMAMJJASONDJFMAMJJASONDJFMAMJJA

1953 1954

Source U S Bureau of Labor statistics

1955

1956

Figure 11

TRENO OF FEED UNO BROILER PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES: I947-I9S6

Figure 12

has been due to several factors, such as the development of better
strains of birds through an effective breeding program, improved
feeding and management practices, and a great improvement in
the quality of feed.

In addition to the increase in feed efficiency there have been
other gains in operation efficiency. Improvements have been
made in sanitation and disease control. Increases in the size of
broiler enterprises have made for more efficient use of labor and
capital.

Table 15. — Estimated Average Pounds of Feed Fed to
Broilers Per Bird, United States: Year Beginning OcTO'
ber 1, 1933 to 1955

Year

Pounds of

feed per

bird

Year

Pounds of

feed per

bird

1933

12.3
12.0
12.5
11.8
12.7
11.7

11.9
12.3
12.0
12.5
11.8
12 0

1945

12.3
11.9
11.5
11.5
10.2
10.3

9.8
9.2

1934

1946

1935

1947

1936

1948

1937

1949

1938

1950

1939

1951

1940

1952

1941

1953 ..

1942 _

1954 ..

9.0

8.8

1943..

1955 ..

1944

Source: Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture.

Production of Turkeys and Other Poultry Products

Turkeys. — Turkeys constituted a small sideline enterprise on
many farms in 1910. The growing of turkeys has now become a
highly commercial affair. At that earlier date, 870,000 farmers
reported 3% million turkeys on hand, averaging 4 turkeys per
farm. In 1954, 170,000 farmers raised 63 million turkeys, averag-
ing 370 per farm. Some farmers reported as many as 20,000
turkeys in a single flock. The number of ducks raised each year
has been continued at about some 11 million birds but there has
been gradually distinct concentrations in specific areas.

Until about 25 years ago, a few turkeys could be found on about
a tenth of our farms. They were used mainly to add to the family
meat supply but some were sold locally. In 1929 there were
638,000 farms reporting turkeys raised, with an average of 26
turkeys raised per farm. By 1939 the number of farms with
turkeys had decreased to 390,000 but the average number raised
per farm had more than doubled.

After 1940 the number of farms raising turkeys continued to
decline, but the number of birds raised increased rapidly. From
1944 to 1954 the number increased from 27 million to 63 million,
and the average number raised per farm was 370 in 1954. This
average does not fully indicate the size of the turkey enterprise on
many farms. The tendency toward larger flocks has been general
in all parts of the country. A large proportion of the turkey crop

Table 16. — Number of Turkeys Raised in 16 Leading States:

1954

State

Number

farms
reporting

Number
turkeys
raised

Average
per farm
reporting

6.125
2,629
5, 550
2,163
25, 356

3,198
4,427
6,389
1,001
2,157

1,594
2,280
2,386
5,213
6,023
2,336

9,911,034
7, 055, 002
5, 104, 489
4, 265, 787
2, 805, 988

2, 532, 026
2, 394, 903
2, 361, 410
2, 303, 637
2,033,179

1, 660, 672
1, 702, 836
1, 501. 596
1, 392, 286
1, 353. 799
1, 107, 880

1,618

2,684

920

1,972

111

Ohio - -- -

792

541

438

Utah -- -

2,301

943

1,042

747

629

267

270

474

Total --

76, 827

49, 486, 524

644

POULTRY PRODUCERS AND POULTRY PRODUCTION

15

Table 17. — Percent Distribution of Farms Reporting
Turkeys Raised, by Number Raised, for the United
States and Selected States: 1939 to 1954

State and number of turkeys
raised per farm

United States:
Under 100...
100 to 799...
800 and over

Minnesota:
Under 100...
100 to 799...
800 and over

California:

ruder 100...
100 to 799. - -
800 and over

Virginia:

Under 100...
100 to 799.. .
800 and over

M issouri:

Under 100...
100 to 799.. .
800 and over

Texas:

Under 100...
100 to 799...
800 and over

Utah:

Under 100...
100 to 799...
800 and over.

Wisconsin:

Under 100...
100 to 799...
800 and over.

Nebraska:

Under 100...
100 to 799.. .
800 and over

Ohio:

Under 100...
100 to 799...
800 and over.

Pennsylvania:
Under 100...
100 to 799. . .
800 and over.

Iowa:

Under 100...
100 to 799....
800 and over.

Percentage distribution for each year

1939

87.6
11.0
1.3

77.4
18.3
4.3

71.8
18.2
10.0

91.9
7.1
1.1

88.5

11.2

.3

88.2

11.8

.1

63.9
15.6
20.6

86.5
11.5
2.0

84.1

14.7
1.1

84.3
13.6
2.1

83.6
14.7
1.7

81.0
11.0
8.0

83.0
II. 0
6.0

37.2
25. :i
36.9

76.3
7.4
16.3

84.5
7.4
8.1

76.6
14.6
8.9

84.0

15.2

.8

46.8
6.2
47.1

73.6
13.4
13.0

63.4
16.0
20.5

72.0
18.7
9.3

64.6

28.3

7.2

54.4
12.5
33.1

Light
breeds

89.9
5.4
4.7

51.6
11.6
36.8

88.1
4.1

7.8

77.9
3.5
18.5

80.5
9.4
10.1

92.6
6.0
1.4

77.4
2.4
20.2

77.4
11.2
11.4

82.9
5.6
11.6

69.9
18.5
11.6

62.6
27.6
9.8

69.1
11.1

19.8

Heavy
breeds

80.7
8.9
10.2

29.4
11.4
59.2

71.7
6.3
22.0

7h s
6.4
14.8

70.4
11.2
18.4

80.9
14.1
5.0

58.2
4.6
37.2

67.9
13.5

18.6

70.9
9.0
20.1

57.7
17.9
24.4

53. 0
32.3
14.7

36.0
11.2
52.8

is raised by relatively large operators. In fact, turkey production
today is generally a large-scale commercial proposition. Flocks
of 5,000 to 15,000 birds are frequent in the more important
commercial areas.

TURKEYS RAISED

NUMBER. 1954

-f I DOT.5.000 TURKEYS

vj

Figure 13

In the main turkey States, except Texas, production is generally
concentrated on farms that have relatively large flocks. In
Texas, a leading turkey-raising State, the enterprise has not been
concentrated on large-scale farms of commercial type. In 1930
the average flock in Texas was 30 birds; by 1954 the average had
increased only to 111. The average size of flock in other impor-
tant turkey-producing States in 1954 was 2,301 for Utah, 1,972
for Iowa, and 2,684 for Minnesota.

Turkey production is highly concentrated in the chief producing
areas. The 16 leading turkey-growing States produced 79 percent
of the turkeys raised in 1954. Of the 63 million turkeys
raised in 1954, 31 million or almost half, were raised in the 100
leading turkey-producing counties.

There has been a definite trend toward larger turkey flocks
during the last 15 years in all areas except Texas. In the United
States only 1.3 percent of the flocks contained over 800 birds in
1939, as compared with 10.2 (for heavy breeds) in 1954. In 1954,
Minnesota had a higher percentage (59.2 percent for heavy breeds)
of flocks with more than 800 turkeys than any of the important
turkey-producing States. Fifteen years earlier only 4.3 percent
of the turkey flocks exceeded 800 birds. The percentage of the
farms with less than 100 turkeys raised in Minnesota dropped
from 77.4 percent in 1939 to 29.4 in 1954. The change in Iowa
was somewhat similar to that of Minnesota.

In Texas relatively small flocks have continued to exist. Only
5 percent of the flocks had more than 800 turkeys in 1954.

Ducks. — The extent of duck raising has not changed much.
For 25 years the number raised annually has been about 11 million.
But there has been a decided reduction in the number of farmers
who raise ducks. In 1929, almost half a million farms reported
ducks raised, by 1954 the number had declined to 200,000. The
number of ducks raised per farm reporting has more than doubled
during the last 25 years.

Table 18. — Number of Turkeys, Ducks,

and Geese Raised

in the United States: 1929 to 195-

Year

Turkeys raised

Bucks raised

Oeeso raised

Farms
reporting

Number

Average
number
per farm
reporting

Farms
reporting

Number

Average
number
per farm
reporting

K:inns
reporting

Number

Average
number ]
per farm
reporting}

1929

637, 843
676,114
389, 352
193,540
162,244
169,807

16, 794, 485
5,381,912
27, 933. 756
27, 202, 266
36,434, 21S
62, 755, 842

26

8

72

141

225
370

470, 418
(NA)
178. 783
(NA)
212, 677
202, 353

11, 337, 487

(NA)
12. 138.S20

(NA)
10, 342, 364
11,065,481

24
(NA)

68
(NA)

49

55

396. 727
(NA)

85,413
(NA)

94, 472
104, 385

3, 989, 831
(NA)
1, 152, 299
(NAJ
1, 160, 045
1,712,999

10

1934

(NA)

1939

13

1944

(NA)

194g .

12

1954 _- _

16

NA Not available.

16 FARMERS AND FARM PRODUCTION

Table 19. — Number and Use of Resources for all Commercial Farms, and all Poultry Farms in Selected Subregions: 1954

Item

Number of farms _

All land in farms. _. acres, thousands

Total cropland. acres, thousands.

Value nf all farm products sold, total dollars, millions.

All crops except fruits, nuts, and vegetables dollars, millions.

Fruits and nuts dollars, millions.

Vegetables for sale _ dollars, millions.

All livestock, poultry, and their products dollars, millions.

Hairy products dollars, millions.

Poultry and poultry products dollars, millions.

Other livestock and livestock products dollars, millions.

All other products.. dollars, millions.

Total capital dollars, millions-
Land and buildings ..dollars, millions.

Implements and machinery .dollars, millions-
Livestock and poultry ...dollars, millions.

Man-equivalent of labor

Chickens 4 months old and over ..number, millions.

Chicken eggs sold dozens, millions.

Broilers sold dollars, millions.

Other chickens sold dollars, millions.

Other poultry and poultry products.. dollars, millions.

Commercial farms

All

commercial
farms

3, 327, 889

1,032,493

431,685

24,299

9,736

1,187

628

12,223

3,330

1,907

6,986

525

110,545
85,768
14,280
10, 497

4,891,935

340

2,664

556

141

Poultry farms

Total

154, 251
12,048
4,998

1,486

62

10

5

1,416

28

1,333

55

3

2,727

2,105

385

237

179, 223
107
1,206
537
66
259

Percentage
of all com-
mercial
farms

4.6
1.2
1.2

6.1
2.5
0.8
0.8

11.6
0.8

69.9
0.8
0.6

2.5
2.5
2.7
2.3

3.7

31.5
45.3
96.6
46.8
89.6

Poultry farms In selected subregions

Total

56, 525
3,365
1,216

734
16
6
3
708
9
685
14
1

1,204
950
145
109

70, 963

57

672

291

34

97

Percentage

of all

poultry

farms

36.6
27.9
24.3

49.4
30.8
60.0
60.0
50.0
32.1
51.4
25.5
33.3

44.2
45.1
37.7
46.0

39.6
53.3
55.7
54.2
51.5
37.5

Percentage
of all com-
mercial
farms

1.7
0.3
0.3

3.0
0.2
0.6
0.5
5.8
0.3
35.9
0.2
0.2

1.1
1.1
1.0
1.0

1.5
16.8
25.2
52.3
24.1
33.6

Production of ducks is important in only a few specialized areas.
Of the 11 million ducks raised in the United States during 1954,
more than 7 million were reported in 5 States: New York, Mich-
igan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Massachusetts. Almost 5 million
were raised in New York, mostly in Suffolk County, Long Island.
Other leading duck-producing counties are Saginaw and Gratiot
Counties in Michigan; Lake and Piatt Counties in Illinois; and
Racine County in Wisconsin.

Geese. — Comparatively few geese, 1.7 million, are raised in
this country. More than a fourth of these were raised in two
States — New Mexico with 229,000 and California with 216,000.
Minnesota ranked third in the production of geese, with 134,000.

Table 20. — Poultry Farms as a Percent of All Commercial
Farms, by Subregions: ' 1954

Subregion

Per-
cent

Subregion

Per-
cent

Subregion

Per-
cent

Subregion

Per-
cent

United

4.6
12 2
29! 1
35.2
29.0

31.5
16.9
3.0
7.0
7.9

8.3
26.0
16.2
18.2
21.9

30.5
15.2
14.0
29.9

7.8

8.8
0.5
1.0
1.6
0.9

1.9
20.3
10.6
9.4
4.4

30-. _

7.3

3.0

1.9

21.1

8.9

4.6
1.0
2.4
1.5
6.3

10.9
1.2
18.0
11.7
0.9

0.5
4.3
3.1
4.5
3.8

9.0
3.4
4.6
0.9
1.0

4.6
3.9
1.2
5.8
2.5

60

1.5
0.6
4.6
1.7
4.2

1.8
3.1
1.8
2.8
1.9

1.4
1.9
5.0
5.6
9.7

0.6
0.4
0.9
3.8
12.8

7.5
9.1
18.8
2.1
3.4

1.6
2.1
2.7
3.7
2.0

90

0 4

States

31

61

91

0 9

1

32 _-_-

62

92

0 9

2

33

63 -__

64

93

1 1

3

34

94

1 5

4

35-. _

36. -.,

65

95

3.7

5..

66..

96

5 1

6

37--.

38- -,-

39

67

97

4.8

7

68--

98

6 3

8

69

99

1 0

9

40

70

100

6 1

10

41

71

101

1 5

11

42

72

102

0 9

12

73

103

1 0

13

44

74

104

14

45 _..

75--. .

105

0 3

16...

46

76 -

106

1.7
2 6

16

47 _-

77

107

17

48-

78

108

1 i

18

49

79 -

109

19...

50

80..

110

Ill

3 5

20

51

81

21

52 __

82.. .

112

4 0

22

53

83

113

114 -

4.3

6 8

23

64

84

24

65

85 .

115

22 6

25..

56

86..

116

6 5

26.-.

57

87

117

27.-

58

88

28-..

59

89

119

16 1

29

' Selected poultry subregions are printed in bold type.

POULTRY FARMS

Importance of poultry farms. — An increasingly large part of
poultry production is being produced on specialized commercial
poultry farms. This trend seems likely to continue. Information
on the organization and operation of these farms consequently
gives considerable insight into prospective as well as current
conditions in poultry production. Poultry farms comprise less
than one-twentieth of all commercial farms in the United States
but they contain less than one-eightieth of the total farmland and
cropland in all commercial farms. Poultry farms account for
almost one-sixteenth of the value of all farm products sold, but
this relative position is mainly the result of the use of relatively
large quantities of purchased feed.

Poultry farms account for a smaller proportion of the total
capital investment and labor force than they do of the total number
of farms. On poultry farms the sales of poultry and poultry
products represent almost the only source of farm income.

Poultry farms generally have much less land than most other
types of farms. Almost two-thirds of all poultry farms have less
than 70 acres each. Only 30 percent of all commercial farms have
less than 70 acres.

Poultry farms had about a third of the chickens that were 4
months old and over on all commercial farms, in 1954. In that
year, they accounted for 70 percent of all poultry and poultry
products sold, 45 percent of the chicken eggs sold, and nine-tenths
or more of the broilers sold and turkeys raised.

Important poultry areas. — In order to indicate the characteris-
tics of poultry farms by size of business, 16 of the 119 economic
subregions have been selected as poultry subregions because of
the relative importance of specialized poultry farms (figure 15).
In these subregions a considerable percentage of the farms are
poultry-type farms; that is, the farms obtain more than 50 per-
cent of their income from poultry and poultry products. How-
ever, only two subregions (subregions 3 and 18) are considered to
be mainly poultry subregions. Subregions 2, 4, and 5 are poultry
and dairy subregions. In subregion 82 poultry (mainly broilers)
and cotton production are important. In the other 10 subregions
poultry farming is combined with other kinds of farm enterprises
such as livestock, general farming, field crops, and fruits and nuts.
The particular combination is usually determined by the back-
ground, habits, and traditions of the earlier settlers in the locality

POULTRY PRODUCERS AND POULTRY PRODUCTION

17

Figure 14

as well as their aptitudes and skills; however, the influence that
finally determines the combination of farm enterprises is the rela-
tive economic advantage of the various enterprises in an area.

Taken together, the production on poultry farms in these sub-
regions accounts for about one-third of all poultry farms in the
United States and for more than half of all poultry products sold
on poultry farms. In general, poultry farms in other areas are
smaller and less specialized.

In the selected subregions the poultry enterprise is generally
important. However, poultry farms are not the most important
type of farm in any of these subregions. These 16 selected sub-
regions contain more than one-third of all the poultry farms in the
United States.

A brief description of the agriculture in the 16 selected poultry
subregions follows:1

Subregion 2 comprises the southwestern counties of Maine
and the southern tier of counties in New Hampshire. It is un-
usual in two respects: (1) Only about half of the farms are com-
mercial farms; the other half are either part-time or residential
farms that provide homes for families who earn their living in
nearby factories or in other nonagricultural work. (2) Poultry
production has gradually replaced dairying in many places. The
income from poultry and poultry products accounts for more than
40 percent of the total farm income in some parts and dairying
for another 30 percent. Other considerable sources of farm in-
come include hay, fruits and vegetables, and tobacco. Most of
the poultry income is from egg production but broiler production
is also valuable.

Subregion 3 includes eastern Massachusetts and all of Rhode
Island. It has some of the same characteristics as subregion 2.
Poultry farming is the principal commercial type of farming,
followed by dairy, fruits (especially cranberries), and vegetables,
and the growing of large quantities of flowers under glass. Many
of the farms are part-time and residential farms.

Subregion 4 has a very large proportion of part-time and resi-
dential farms. A wide belt is covered, including west central
Massachusetts and the eastern two-thirds of Connecticut. Nota-
ble distinction between this subregion and subregions 2 and 3 is
the large quantity of tobacco grown in the Connecticut River
Valley. Poultry is a principal source of farm income.

Subregion 5 comprises about the northern half of New Jersey,
the metropolitan area of New York City, Long Island, and part of
Connecticut. It includes more than 15 million inhabitants — one
of the greatest concentrations of population in the United States.
The part that is farmed can be characterized by many specialized
as well as many residential and part-time farms. The relatively
high land values encourage a type of farming that produces a
large volume on a small area. Under these conditions, poultry

can compete favorably, hence it is much more important than
any other type of farming; it outranks both dairying and potato
production.

Subregion 14 is relatively small, consisting of three counties
nestled between subregions 5 and 15. It is characterized by
he.ivy poultry production similar to that in the two adjoining
subregions.

Subregion 15 is relatively large, including southern New
Jersey, all of Delaware, eastern Maryland, and two counties in
Virginia. It includes the Delmarva Peninsula and eastern Vir-
ginia and also Sussex County in southern Delaware — the county
with the greatest concentration of broiler production in the United
States. The northern counties in the subregion have a high pro-
portion of well-drained loam and silt-loam soils suited to staple
crops like wheat, corn, and hay. Dairying has become a main
source of farm income. In the southern counties where more
sandy soils exist, poultry and large-scale truck farming provide
a large proportion of the farm income. The principal truck crops
are tomatoes, green beans, lima beans, cantaloups, cucumbers,
watermelons, Irish potatoes, and sweetpotatoes. Throughout
the subregion, a type of agriculture has developed that gives a
large return per acre of land. Poultry production has become one
of the most important farm enterprises.

Subregion 18 covers a strip in northwestern Virginia that
runs northeast and southwest. It comprises the part of the
Valley of Virginia that is drained by the Shenandoah River.
The land is level to rolling, and fertile. Poultry and fruit
production are leading farm enterprises in the area.

Subregion 26 includes the central part of the Great Valley
in Virginia and the adjoining ridges and mountains. Much of
the land is hilly or mountainous. The cropland has been devoted
mainly to the growing of corn, wheat, or hay, much of which

NUMBER OF BROILERS SOLD IN POULTRY SUBRE6I0NS:I954

MILLIONS OF BROILERS
I J UNDER I
t ' ;] I TO 2 9

E3 i io <i

EBB 5 TO 9 9

^| 10 AND OVER

Figure 15

1 The description is based largely on material from a forthcoming monograph on Systems of Economic Areas prepared by D. J. Boguo and C. L. Beale and to be published by the
Scripts Foundation for Research in Population Problems in cooperation with Agricultural Marketing Service, United States Department of Agriculture.

18

FARMERS AND FARM PRODUCTION

is used for livestock feed. Broiler production on a commercial
scale has grown during the last 25 years, but the income from
the poultry farms is less than that from similar farms in many
of the other selected subregions.

Subregion 33 encompasses the Blue Ridge Mountains and
the associated valleys and plateaus in western North Carolina
and northern Georgia. Most of the farms here are of a subsist-
ence type; only a limited quantity of farm products are sold
through market channels. About half of the land is in farms
and only one-fourth of the farmland can be classified as crop-
land. Income per farm is generally low. More than nine-tenths
of the farms are in Economic Classes V, VI, and VII. Many
of the farmers supplement their farm income by work off the
farm. The leading sources of farm income include tobacco,
poultry, livestock, dairy products, vegetables, and corn. The
harvesting of timber and forest products provides some income.

The southern tier of counties borders on subregion 42, one
of the more highly commercialized broiler localities of the United
States. The majority of the farms here are poultry farms.
Compared with the other commercial farms of the subregion,
incomes are relatively high.

NUMBER OF BROILERS SOLD IN POULTRY SUBREGIONS: 1954

MILLIONS OF BROILERS
E23 UNDER I

[Mj J TO < 9

m 10 AND OVER

] | NO BROILERS SOLD

Figure 16

Subregion 42 is comprised mainly of the Georgia Piedmont
but extends into South Carolina and Alabama. Cotton (until
recent years the principal crop), and other row crops, have been
largely replaced by livestock, dairy, and poultry, as major sources
of income. The land in parts of this subregion is relatively
level, but much of it is rolling or even hilly, so that when cotton
was the principal crop, soil erosion was a serious problem. On
several million acres the cultivation of crops has been abandoned,
and the land has been returned to forest or planted to soil-
conserving crops. The agriculture of the entire region has under-
gone fundamental changes during the last four decades. The

number of farms has been reduced by almost half in 35 years.
The 66 counties in this subregion include 6 of the larger broiler-
producing counties in the Nation.

Subregion 82 centers in northwestern Arkansas, southwest-
ern Missouri, and northeastern Oklahoma. The heart of broiler
production of this subregion is in the two northwestern counties
of Arkansas — Washington and Benton — the second and third
ranking counties nationally in broiler production, in 1954, with
a total of more than 34 million birds.

NUMBER OF BROILERS SOLD, FOR SUBREGIONS
73, 74, AND 82:1954

MILLIONS OF BROILERS
FTxTl UNDER I

CZ3' T° *■»
E23 ! T° «

Hfl 5 TO 9.9

■H 10 AND OVER

Figure 17

Subregion 115 includes a considerable area of irrigated land,
which grows large quantities of fruits, vegetables, sugar beets,
flax, dry beans, and hay. Dairy and poultry farming are impor-
tant farm enterprises. Livestock ranches occupy the rougher
and drier parts of the subregion.

Subregion 116 has the largest concentration of fruit farms
and vineyards in the United States. The production of fruits,
vegetables, and other cash crops are the chief farm enterprises.
Dairy and poultry production and livestock ranching are prevalent
in certain parts.

Subregion 117 the Central Pacific Coast subregion, is impor-
tant in poultry and in fruits and vegetables. Parts that are too
rough for crop farming are occupied by livestock ranches. Poul-
try farms are numerous and poultry is second to cash crops as
a source of farm income. Dairying is also prevalent.

Subregion 119 like the other three Pacific Coast subregions,
has considerable diversification of agriculture. In that part of
the area lying in the State of Washington, dairy farms outnumber
poultry farms, but poultry has a noteworthy place. In the part
that lies in Oregon, the number of fruit-and-nut farms exceeds
the number of farms of other types.

POULTRY PRODUCERS AND POULTRY PRODUCTION

19

NUMBER OF BROILERS SOLD.FOR SUBREGIONS
115,116, AND 117:1954

MILLIONS OF BROILERS
1:1 UNDER I

(223 1 to 19
E23 3 to is
GS3 s to 9.9

■I 10 ANO OVER

Figure 18
NUMBER OF BROILERS SOLD.FOR SUBREGION 119:1954

MILLIONS OF BROILERS

f£Z3 UNDER I
E3 I TO 19
ESJs to 4.9
5H s to 9.9

^M 10 AND OVER

Figure 19

The four poultry subregions on or near the Pacific Coast (115,
116, 117, and 119), produce eggs, broilers, and turkeys in large
quantities. In 1954, these four subregions accounted for almost
50 percent of the turkeys, 12 percent of the broilers, and 5 percent
of the eggs, produced in the 16 selected poultry subregions.

Characteristics of Poultry Farms by Economic Class of Farm

Poultry farms in the 16 selected subregions include 37 percent
of all poultry farms in the United States and account for half the
value of all poultry and poultry products sold from all poultry
farms, and 44 percent of the total capital invested in all poultry
farms (see table 19).

The characteristics of poultry farms in the United States and
in the 16 selected subregions are similar. Of the total poultry
farms in the United States, 27 percent were in Economic Classes
I and II, compared with 17 percent of all commercial farms. On
the other hand, 37 percent of all poultry farms in the United States
and 21 percent of all poultry farms in the selected subregions were
in Economic Classes V and VI. Table 21 shows the percentage

Table 21. — Distribution of Selected Resources on all
Poultry Farms and on Poultry Farms in Selected Poultry
Subregions, by Economic Class of Farm: 1954

Item

ALL POULTRY FARMS IN THE
UNITED STATES

Number of farms

All land in farms ...acres-.

Total cropland acres-.

Capital invested dollars-.

Man-equivalent of labor

Value of all farm products sold, total

dollars.

All crops except fruits, nuts, and

vegetables dollars.

Fruits and nuts dollars.

Vegetables for sale dollars-

All livestock, poultry, and their
products ...dollars-
Dairy products dollars-
Poultry and poultry products
dollars.
Other livestock and livestock

products dollars.

All other products dollars.

Chickens 4 mouths old and over

number..

Chicken eggs sold dozens..

Broilers sold dollars. .

Other chickens sold dollars..

Other poultry and poultry products
sold _ dollars.

POULTRY FARMS IN SELECT-
ED POULTRY SUBREGIONS

Number of farms..

All land in farms acres..

Total cropland- .acres..

Capital invested dollars..

Man-equivalent of labor

Value of all farm products sold, total

dollars..

All crops except fruits, nuts, and

vegetables dollars. .

Fruits and nuts dollars-.

Vegetables for sale dollars. .

All livestock, poultry, and their

products dollars. -

Dairy products dollars- -

Poultry and poultry products

dollars..

Other livestock and livestock

products dollars-.

All other products dollars..

Chickens 4 months old and over

number..

Chicken eggs sold dozens. -

Broilers sold.- dollars. .

Other chickens sold dollars..

Other poultry and poultry products
sold dollars..

[Percent distribution by economic class of farm

Total I II III IV

ion, 0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

100.0

100.0
100.0
100.0

100.0
100.0

100.0

100.0

100. 0
100. 0
100.0
100.0

100.0

100.0
100.0
100. 0
100.0
100.0

100.0
100.0
100.0

100.0
100.0

100.0
100.0

100.0
100.0
100.0
100. 0

100.0

8.5

17.8
19.6
21.6
19.9

33.3
45.3
24.7

44.1
29.1

35.4
27.5

45.1
28.0
47.3
27.5

71.5

11.7
22 3
20.0
25.7
24.5

43.6
47.0
35.0

47.7
36.2

37.2
38.2

29.3
33.0
60.8
33.8

79.0

18.5
22.5
23.6
25.5
22.8

30.0
25.0
34.6

30.2
30.3

30.4

24.4
31.2

33.1
33.0
33.6
29.1

20. I

25. 2

27! 0

28.4
29.9
28.4

29.4
27.8
37.6

30.9
37.2

30.9

28.7
32.7

37.0
38.6
30.5
33.1

14.5

18.5
IS. 9
19.0
18.3
18.1

18.7
12.2
20.2

14.0
16.9

13.8

16.2
20.5

14.1
18.3
13.4
19.5

5.6

23.1
21.4
20.3
20.1
19.9

13.3

15.7
11.2
15.5

13.2
16.1

13.1

16.9
18.1

18.0
16.7
12.8
17.7

4.4

IV

V

17.9

15.7
15.6
14.3
14.5

18.8
13.4
12.5
12.5
12.5

7.1

3.7

11.2

11.1
12.1

5.3
4.0
6.6

6.9
9.4

3.6

6.9

6.6

3.3

11.9
11.6

8.4
6.1

5.4
11.1

4.5
12.6

1.9

6.8
1.2
8.1

1.8

.8

18.9
14.7
13.5
12.5
13.7

14.5
9.8

8.2
8.2
8.9

5.7

2.2

7.8
7.6
8.0

2.7
2.9
3.3

5.6
6.6

2.2
3.4

5.5

2.1

10.7
6.3

5.2
3.4

9.3
7.6
4.7
9.3

6.0
3.4
1.2

4.7

,3

.6

VI

17.8
11.7
9.8
7.7
12.3

1.2

1.6
2.5
1.9

1.2
2.4

.4
2.8

.1
3.2

6.6
4.7
3.6
3.6
4.6

.7
.5
.7

.4
.6

1.3
1.3

1.5
.7
(Z)
1.3

.1

Z 0.05 percent or less.

20

FARMERS AND FARM PRODUCTION

distribution by economic class of farm, of selected resources for
all poultry farms in the United States, and for poultry farms in
the selected poultry subregions.

Comparisons by economic class between poultry farms and
other types of farms are of limited usefulness because of the large
expenditures for feed and other items used in production, on
poultry farms. The total of specified expenditures on poultry
farms are equivalent to about three-fourths of the total received
from gross sales. This compares with about two-fifths for com-
mercial farms as a group.

Size of poultry farms. — Specialized poultry farms are usually
not very large from the standpoint of area. In most of the 16
selected subregions, poultry farms with less than 29 acres comprise
one-half or more of all commercial farms under 29 acres in size.
The average size of poultry farms decreases with the decrease in
gross sales. Poultry farms in Class I averaged 163 acres of land
per farm compared with only 51 acres for farms in Class VI.
Accompanying the decrease in size of farm was an even greater
decrease in the proportion of the land used in crops. Almost
one-third of the land in Class I farms was in harvested crops com-
pared with one-fifth for Class V farms and one-sixth in Class VI
farms. The crops raised showed little change between economic
classes of farms other than smaller average acreages — corn and
hay were equally divided, and represented approximately half of
the cropland harvested on farms in each economic class. Wide
variations from this pattern are evident in the different subregions.

Table 22,

-Distribution of all Commercial and Poultry
Farms by Size of Farm : 1954

Size of farm

All com-
mercial
farms in
the United
States

All poultry

farms in

the United

States

Poultry
farms in
selected
poultry
subregions

Percent distribution by size of farm:

100
4
11
15
23
25
14
9

310

100
26
18
21
20
10
4
1

78

100

33

21

20

15

7

2

1

Average size of farms acres.-

60

There are significant differences among the selected subregions in
the distribution of poultry farms, of gross sales, and total invest-
ment by economic class of farm. (See Table 23.) In subregions
15 and 116, almost half of the poultry farms are in Economic
Classes I and II; on the other hand, only one-fourth of the poultry
farms in subregions 16, 33, and 119 are in these two economic
classes. For the 16 selected subregions, more than 78 percent of
the gross sales of all farm products on poultry farms are on farms in
Economic Classes I and II. In subregions 2, 4, 15, 115, 116, and
117, four-fifths or more of the gross sales on poultry farms come
from farms in Economic Classes I and II. Gross sales on poul-
try farms in Economic Classes IV, V and VI, represent less than
10 percent of the gross sales of all poultry farms except in subregions
4, 16, 18, 26, 33, 42, and 119.

The investment in land and buildings, livestock and poultry,
and machinery on poultry farms in Economic Classes I and II,
comprises 56 percent of the total investment on all poultry farms.
Among the 16 selected subregions the proportion of the total in-
vestment on all poultry farms in Economic Classes I and II varies
considerably. In subregion 116, more than half of the total in-
vestment is on farms in Economic Classes I and II; in subregion
42, farms in Economic Classes I and II have less than a fifth of
the total investment on all poultry farms in the subregion.

Table 23. — Percent Distribution of Poultry Farms, Gross
Sales, and Total Investment, by Economic Class of Farm,
for Selected Subregions : 1954

Item and subregion

Number of poultry farms:

Total, 16 selected subregions

Subregion 2

Subregion 3

Subregion 4

Subregion 5

Subregion 14

Subregion 15

Subregion 16

Subregion 18

Subregion 26

Subregion 33

Subregion 42

Subregion 82

Subregion 115

Subregion 116 _.

Subregion 117__

Subregion 119

Gross sales on poultry farms:

Total, 16 selected subregions

Subregion 2

Subregion 3

Subregion 4

Subregion5

Subregion 14

Subregion 15

Subregion 16

Subregion 18

Subregion 26

Subregion 33

Subregion 42

Subregion 82

Subregion 115

Subregion 116

Subregion 117

Subregion 119 _

Total investment in land and build-
ings, livestock and poultry, and
machinery :

Total, 16 selected subregions

Subregion 2

Subregion 3

Subregion 4

Subregion 5

Subregion 14

Subregion 15. _

Subregion 16

Subregion 18.

Subregion 26

Subregion 33

Subregion 42

Subregion 82

Subregion 115

Subregion 116

Subregion 117

Subregion 119

Economic class of farm

Total

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

100.0
100.0
100:0
100.0
100.0
100.0

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

11.7
15.9

9.8
17.5
11.5

9.0

17.0
7.2

14.8
6.7
4.1
6.4

7.5
14.7
24.3
14.9

7.6

47.6
57.5
39.8
58.6
40.5
21.3

55.9
41.7
56.3
31.2
22.4
28.3

31.3

50.8
70.5
52.2
39.8

25.7
30.5
25.3
32.1
19.8
16.0

28.2
20.8
33.4
17.9
10.7
14.1

17.6
26.6
49.6
27.1
18.7

11

25.2
24.1
21.6
27.1
28.8
32.3

37.2
16.7
17.6
18.0
18.7
22.7

27.1
30.1
23.4
28.8
17.7

30.9
26.5
34.4
27.5
37.4
51.4

32.4
29.1
21.9
31.5
36.9
35.8

38.2
31.3
17.9
30.5
29.3

29.9
26.9
24.0
30.6
32.5
33.9

42.5
26.2
22.3
23.4
25.1
29.3

34.5
27.2
21.8
32.4
24.4

III

23.1
19.5
21.0
15.2
22.3
26.3

19.6
18.5
19.5
28.5
24.3
31.0

29.0
24.0
22.1
23.0
21.7

13.3
9.3

14.7
6.9

13.7

19.9

8.2
14.6
11.6
23.9
22.9
23.6

20.9
11.9
7.5
11.2
16.3

20.1
16.5
18.8
12.4
19.3
23.0

16.1
18.3
16.3
28.2
21.4
28.4

24.7

25.0
14.7
22.5
20.9

IV

18.9
17.2
19.7
17.1
18.7
14.3

11.8
21.3
21.8
20.6
23.8
22.3

20.7
16.7
15.0
16.9
25.2

5.7
4.5
7.3
4.3
5.9
5.2

2.5

9.0
7.1
8.7
11.6
9.2

7.4
4.3
2.7
4.1

12.5
12.3
13.4
11.7
14.2
12.7

6.6

15.7
15.9
14.2
21.3
16.5

13.9

10.5
8.1
10.1
20.6

14.5
13.9
18.0
17.6
11.3
11.3

8.4
23.2
17.6
18.6
19.1
14.0

10.7
12.0
11.4
11.9
19.3

2.2
1.7
3.1
2.5
2.0
2.0

0.9
4.6
2.7
4.1
5.1
2.9

1.8
1.6
1.1
1.9
3.9

8.2
9.0
13.4
10.7
7.7
9.7

4.5
13.7

8.3
12.7
14.1

9.3

7.0
7.2
4.7
5.6
10.9

VI

6.6
9.4
9.9
5.5
7.4

6.1
13.1
8.7
7.6
9.9
3.6

5.0
2.5
3.8

4.4
8.5

0.4
0.4
0.7
0.3
0.5
0.4

0.2
1.0
0.5
0.5
1.1
0.3

0.4
0.1
0.1
0.2
0.8

3.6
4.9
5.2
2.5
6.5
4.7

1.9
5.2
4.0
3.6
7.2
2.3

2.4
3.5
1.1
2.2
4.5

Table 24. — Operators of Poultry Farms, by Tenure of
Operator: 1954

Item

All poultry

farms in the

United

States

Poultry
farms in
selected
poultry
subregions

154, 251 56. 525

Farms operated by —

Owners, part owners, and managers number..

144. 381

93.6

9. 870

6.4

53. 208
94.1

3.317
5.9

POULTRY PRODUCERS AND POULTRY PRODUCTION

21

Tenure and age of operator. — More than 9 in 10 poultry farms
are operated by owners, part owners, or managers. The percent-
age of farms operated by tenants is lower for poultry farms than
for any other type of farm. Nearly half of the operators are 55
years old or older (see Table 25). The older operators are found
mostly on the smaller operations — Class V and VI farms. More
than three-fourths of the operators of Class I farms are less than
55, as are three-fifths of the operators of Class II farms. Three-
fourths of the operators of Class VI farms are over this age.

Table 25. — Percent Distribution of Farm Operators in
Each Economic Class of Farm, by Age, for All Poultry
Farms in Selected Subregions: 1954

Item and ago group

All poultry farms in the United States

Farm operators reporting age

Under 25 years. ..

25 to 34 years

35 to 44 years _.

45 to 54 years

55 to 64 years

65 years and over

Poultry farms in selected poultry sub
regions:

Farm operators reporting age

Under 25 years.. _.

25 to 34 years

35 to 44 years

45 to 54 years

65 to 64 years

65 years and over

Percent distribution for each economic class of
farm

Total

100

10
20
22
24
24

100
1
11
22
25
23
IS

100

1

17
30
29
17
6

100

1

15

28
30
19

100
1
15
26
28
21
9

100
1
13
28
28
21
9

100

1
11

23
26
24
15

IV V

100

1
e

19
25
26
20

100
1

10
19
25
26
20

100
1
8
16
20
25
30

100
1
9
18
21
24
26

VI

100
(Z)
2
6
11
24
67

100
(Z)
3
9
12
24
62

Z 0.5 percent or less.

Table 26. — Source of Farm Income on Poultry Farms, by
Economic Class of Farm, for Selected Poultry Subregions:
1954

Subregion and item

United States:

Value of all farm products sold

All crops except vegetables, fruits,

and nuts

Vegetables for sale _.

Fruits and nuts

All livestock and livestock prod-
ucts, total

Poultry and poultry products...

Eggs

Broilers

Other chickens

Other poultry products

Dairy products

Other livestock and livestock
products

All other products

Subregion 2:

Value of all farm products sold

All crops except vegetables, fruits,

and nuts

Vegetables for sale

Fruits and nuts...

All livestock and livestock prod-
ucts, total.

Poultry and poultry products

Eggs

Broilers

Other chickens

Other poultry products

Dairy products _.

Other livestock and livestock

products

All other products

Z BOIcents or.less.

Average per farm by economic class of farm
(dollars)

Total

9,634

334
34

67

9,179
8,644
3,062
3,479

426
1,677

181

354
20

14,731

106

41

4

14.541

14.205

7,101

5,272

1,567

265

256

80
39

1,304
97
355

47, 577
45, 485
10, 730
19, 305
1,378
14, 072
617

1,475

67

53,174

163
83
14

52, 82'
52. 059
24,919
22,478
4,596
66
672

96
87

15, 727

641
63
90

14,998
14,177
5.379
6,307
671
1,820
364

467

35

197
45
(Z)

15,911
15.309
7.100
5.495
1,964
750
467

135

7,359

337
36
44

6,919

6,443

2,965

2,518

449

511

165

311

23

111
64

6,872
6,705
4,063
1,382
1,009
251
119

48
14

3, 808

210
23
41

3,521
3,190

i.m;.

878
298
169
95

236

13

3,869

32
27
(Z)

3,809

3,706

2.593

433

617

63

30

73
1

1,878

94
12
14

1,751

1,535

1,058

222

183

72

67

159

7

1,758

1,649

1,084

160

317

s\

49

60
2

666

29

4

620
523
418
10
78
17
25

72

4

617

18

5

(Z)

574

542

335

20

166

21

14

18
20

Table 26. — Source of Farm Income on Poultry Farms, by
Economic Class of Farm, for Selected Poultry Subregions:
1954 — Continued = |

Subregion and item

Subregion 3:

Value of all farm products sold

All crops except vegetables, fruits,

and nuts

Vegetables for sale

Fruits and nuts

All livestock and livestock prod-
ucts, total

Poultry and poultry products- ..

Eggs

Broilers

Other chickens

Other poultry products

Dairy products

Other livestock and livestock

products

All other products

Subregion 4:

Value of all farm products sold

All crops except vegetables, fruits,

and nuts

Vegetables for sale

Fruits and nuts

All livestock and livestock prod-
ucts, total

Poultry and poultry products —

Eggs

Broilers

Other chickens

Other poultry products

Dairy products

Other livestock and livestock

products

All other products

Subregion 5:

Value of all farm products sold ,

All crops except vegetables, fruits,

and nuts

Vegetables for sale

Fruits and nuts

All livestock and livestock prod-
ucts, total

Poultry and poultry products

Eggs

Broilers

Other chickens

Other poultry products

Dairy products

Other livestock and livestock
products-

All other products

Subregion 14:

Value of all farm products sold.

All crops except vegetables, fruits,

and nuts

Vegetables for sale

Fruits and nuts

All livestock and livestock prod-
ucts, total

Poultry and poultry products

Eggs.

Broilers..

Other chickens

Other poultry products ..

Dairy products

Other livestock and livestock
products _..

All other products

Subregion 15:

Value of all farm products sold

All crops except vegetables, fruits,

and nuts

Vegetables for sale

Fruits and nuts

All livestock and livestock prod-
ucts, total

Poultry and poultry products

Eggs

Broilers

Other chickens.

Other poultry products

Dairy products

Other livestock and livestock
products

All other products

Z 50 cents orlless.

Average per farm by economic class of farm

(dollars)

Total

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

10,353

42, 086

16,517

7,257

3,822

1,806

723

60

268

119

17

14

7

9

131

286

335

109

31

9

2

17

39

37

1

(Z)

5

!0, 116

41.259

16.018

7,084

3.769

1.790

703

9,988

40.853

15,852

6,902

3,729

1,782

681

5.514

17, lur

9. 263

4,994

2,582

1,290

450

1,622

7.58C

3.127

579

311

98

49

864

2,392

1.342

801

59C

237

137

1 , 9SS

i:),iisr

2,120

52S

246

156

45

96

312

153

128

29

2

32

124

13

64

11

8

20

29

243

6

10

7

4

15,370

51,370

15, 580

6,992

3,838

2.190

763

168

743

88

31

30

21

8

24

15

43

7

36

14

2

47

185

28

30

17

(Z)

....

15.120

50,417

15.395

6,916

3,754

2.155

753

14,681

48. 922

14,942

6,791

3,716

2,007

706

6,501

13. 791

6.814

3.782

2,397

1,273

542

7,151

29. 492

5,916

1,399

684

285

1,374

3.453

1,731

1,114

377

325

156

655

2,186

481

49(1

258

124

8

333

1,149

367

87

6

98

19

106

346

86

38

32

50

28

11

10

26

8

1

12,417

43, 762

16,140

7,643

3,941

2,168

767

214

616

228

226

106

58

10

35

46

34

55

30

19

3

11

9

14

14

3

9

12

12,128

42.915

15,853

7,329

3,802

2.069

726

11,986

42,543

15,687

7,165

3,759

2,011

712

8,646

25.026

12,942

5,852

2,796

1,579

506

938
865

4.927
2.318

841
1,186

406
648

210
372

268

172

1,537

16,272

718

258

381

164

34

85

322

101

77

4

6

2

57

50

65

87

39

62

12

29

176

11

19

3

6

10, 661

25,118

16,902

8,050

3,885

1,896

633

223

504

302

209

185

6

17

96

169

98

163

39

17

17

10
10. 331

24, 445

30
16, 472

7,688

3,676

1,873

599

10.312

24, 345

16, 470

7,682

3,624

1.873

589

5,676

5, S41

10, 599

4.665

2,317

1,273 3P0

3,473

IS, 056

4, 131

1,611

538

111

653

448

901

705

690

224

1/5

610

839

701

79

376

3

2
17

16
36

'1

100

2

6

7

1

5

18,646

61,511

16,213

7,772

3,921

1,910

654

780

2,236

780

363

237

109

33

153

431

140

96

44

40

6

2

4

(Z)

1

1

2

17,683

58,712

15,276

7,311

3,632

1,754

608

17,443

58. 051

16,049

7,191

3.534

1,669

582

5,483

10. 007

7,108

3,953

2,034

1,210

419

10,715

43, 703

7,145

2,589

1,068

152

17

524

748

593

680

326

202

12S

721

3,593

203

69

106

105

18

64

198

64

17

17

7

2

176

463

163

103

81

78

24

28

132

13

2

7

6

6

22

FARMERS AND FARM PRODUCTION

Table 26. — Source of Farm Income on Poultry Farms, by
Economic Class of Farm, for Selected Poultry Subregions:
1954 — Continued

Subregion and Item

Average per farm by economic el ins of farm
(dollars)

Subregion 16:

Value of all farm products sold .

All crops except vegetables, fruits,

and nuts -

Vegetables for sale _

Fruits and nuts - ---

All livestock and livestock prod-
ucts, total..

Poultry and poultry products-. -

Eggs__

Broilers

Other chickens

Other poultry products

Dairy products

Other livestock and livestock
products-

All other products.

Subregion 82:

Value of all farm products sold

AU crops except vegetables, fruits,

and nuts

Vegetables for sale

Fruits and nuts-- -

All livestock and livestock prod-
ucts, total

Poultry and poultry products. ..

Eggs

Broilers

Other chickens- - --

Other poultry products...

Dairy products.

Other livestock and livestock
products..--

All other products.

Subregion 116:

Value of all farm products sold

All crops except vegetables, fruits,

and nuts --

Vegetables for sale

Fruits and nuts

AH livestock and livestock prod-
ucts, total

Poulry and poultry products —

E«gs

Broilers..- -

Other chickens..

Other poultry products

Dairy yiroducts -

Other livestock and livestock
products.

All other products.

Subregion 116:

VbIuo of all farm products sold

All crops except vegetables, fruits,

and nuts -- --

Vegetables for sale

Fruits and nuts

Total

All livestock and livestock prod-
ucts, total

Poultry and poultry products —

Eggs -. -.'-.

Broilers

Other chickens

Other poultry products

Dairy products

Other livestock and livestock
products

9,240

527
102
27

8, 5119
7.364
3. 511
2,146

478
1,229

403

802
16

14
18
110

10, 535

9,718

419

8, 143

87

1,069

490

327

6

53,11616,133

1,840
271
21

.10. 9M
43. '159
13, 594
16, 878

1,2'
11,915

2,211

5,114
(Z)

15,332

90
20
376

14,839

14,771

9. 168

2,763

798

2.042

1

67

8

44, (130
110
523

43,996

42, 4.14

1.412

30, .190

253
10, 199

496

1,046

All other products.

Snbregion 117:

Value of all farm products sold

AU crops except vegetables, fruits,

and nuts

Vegetables for sale

Fruits and nuts -

All livestock and livestock prod-
ucts, total-. --.

Poultry and poultry products —

Eggs --.

Broilers..

Other chickens

Other poultry products

Dairy products

Other livestock and livestock
products -'--- -

23. 265

837
23
521

21,884

21,456

6,338

4,051

764

10,313

213

215

969

281

77

14,742
12.305
6, 533
3, 649
798
1,32.1
1,168

1,269

64

1.1,104

47
46
84

14,924

13,761

179

12, 823

21

741

773

387

52, 819

475

49

1,431

50. 850

50, 577
2.1, 761
11. 530
1,929
11,353
1

272

14

1,1,943

16,660

15,530

11,294

:,648

976

612

is

67, 891

2,856

71

939

64. 025
63, 069

9, .177
12, 620

1,188

39, 684

504

452

All other products.
Z 50 cents or less.

15,442

55
49
224

15,111
14. SI .5
8,426
3, 360
1.0153
1.966
87

209

III

7,297

546
89
53

6, 600
5,803
3, 721

963
690
429

167

640
9

7,741

50

14

103

7, 6.17
6, 728
379
5,98!
115
24,
538

291

1

IV

3,904

433
55
3

3, 40S

3.016

2, 028

508

310

170

65

327

7,007

31

"l76

7,400

7,381

5,530

720

561

570

1

17,822

376

7
741

16, lids

16.270

9, 530

3,307

980

2,453

183

245

3, 722

3, 199

415

2,600

72

112

313

210

3

1,850

129
27
9

1,684

1,554

1,119

113

209

113

19

111

1

5

6

164

3,821

3, 766

2,762

164

324

216

(Z)

55

1,776

12
2

13

1,749
1,484
493
825
101
65
160

105

1.903

VI

678

70
9
3

595

538

434

11

77

16

9

48

1

76.1

17
2
28

715
517
325
136
55
1
109

89

3

1,88.1

1,851

1, 429

138

21
79

.14,048

142
283
521

63, 098
52, 6615
22, 050

15, 188

3,647

11,780

1

B2

94

8

338

15.892

15,349

10. 945

2,897

1,041

466

219

324

4 (Z)

7,908

185

9

385

7,329
6,997
5,098
773
648
478
177

155

7,497

13
2

113

7,36'

7,136

5,434

847

675

280

90

141

4,224

10
162

3. 901

3. 8.16

3, 0.16

227

378

195

43

65

is
100

3, 590

3. 496

2.S58

233

340

65

2,284

38

""95

2,151

2,109

1,627

120

279

83

18

24

729
729
462

30
195

42

835
21
"J6

798
763
449
181
133

2,440

22

""47

2, 362

2,312

1,873

223

212

4

1'

33

773

15
16

732

723

598

20

94

11

9 10

Table 26.— Source of Farm Income on Poultry Farms, by
Economic Class of Farm, for Selected Poultry Subregions:
1954 — Continued

Subregion arid Item

Average per farm by economic class of farm
(dollars)

Subregion 18:

Value of all farm products sold

All crops except vegetables, fruits,

and nuts

Vegetables for sale

Fruits and nuts

All livestock and livestock prod-
ucts, total -.

Poultry and poultry products —

Eggs

Broilers _

Other chickens —

Other poultry products —

Dairy products

Other livestock and livestock
products

All other products.

Subregion 26:

Value of all farm products sold

All crops except vegetables, fruits,

and nuts ---

Vegetables for sale

Fruits and nuts —

All livestock and livestock prod-
ucts, total

Poultry and poultry products. ..

Eggs

Broilers

Other chickens

Other poultry products..

Dairv products

Other livestock and livestock
products

Total

All other products -.

Subregion 33:

Value of all farm products sold.

All crops except vegetables, fruits,

and nuts

Vegetables for sale --

Fruits and nuts

U livestock and livestock prod-
ucts, total

Poultry and poultry products —

Eggs

Broilers..

Other chickens ---

Other poultry products

Dairv products. - -

Other livestock and livestock
products. .- -

All other products.

Subregion 42:

Value of all farm products sold

All crops except vegetables, fruits,

and nuts

Vegetables for sale

Fruits and nuts.. - ---

All livestock and livestock prod-
ucts, total... ■

Poultry and poultry products —

Eggs

Broilers —

Other chickens

Other poultry products -.

Dairy products

Other livestock and livestock
products

All other products..

Subregion 119:

Value of all farm products sold

All crops except vegetables, fruits,

and nuts..

Vegetables for sale

Fruits and nuts

12,381

138

6

173

12,04'

10,805

948

4,520

187

5,150

346

896

18

All livestock and livestock prod-
ucts, total

Poultry and poultry products.. ..

Eggs

Broilers

Other chickens

Other poultry products

Dairy products --

Other livestock and livestock
products

All other products..

8,820

8,174

520

5,137

98
2,419

60

586
64

47, 001
258

i'osi

45, 614

41, 794

2,408

12, 791

388
26,207

868

2,952
78

135
28

7. 527

7.332

1,836

5. 133

325

38

56

139

25

15,374
224
"68

15, 052

13,009

1,073

6,604

201

5,131

725

1,318

30

42, 0.11

240
3

41,664
39, 750

745
17,509

121
21,375
21

70

15, €

16,1:16

14, 508

649

9,810

128

3,921

54

III

7, 339

195
2
7

7,134
6,413

762
3,931

163
1,55:

244

477
1

7,548

119
2

7.364
6,711
666
4,936
131
978
76

874 677
188 66

15,333

209 206
23 65
12 100

9,746

251
12

9,438
9, 160
1,1.10
7,705

211
94

100

178
36

41,560

40,841

11.143

27.086

1,774

838

244

475

51

234
11
69

8, 732
8, 247
4,325
1,482

437
2,003

217

14, 927

14.657

2.738

11,481

437

1

82

188

35

42,886

397
1
15

42. 368

41. 051

5,141

34, 796

614

500

778

539

105

15,367

361
25

14. 924

14,487

1,449

12,482

296

260

140

297

49

IV

3,945
3,389
653
2,402
171
163
138

418

5

3, 801

(Z)

3,712

3,264

404

2,772

74

4

74

384

29

7,287 3,771

145
32
21

7,047
6,867
1,430
5,190
247
(Z)
75

105

42

153
18
20

1,893

30
7
(Z)

1,853

1,615

457

960

94

104

47

191

3

1,967

1,902

1,592

316

1,191

40

45

55

255

19

VI

649

10
...

637
496
356
18
95
27
45

96

1

650
49

"io

590
414
268
43
93
12
27

149

1

47,813

1,261
81
242

15,034

362
9
41

268
52

4.1,940 14.531
43.832 13.896

14.288
10, 6871
1.403'

17,449)

784

1,324,
. 289!.

614
2,211

657
3,414

312

323
91

306
11
13

7.050

6,894

818

5,914

161

1

35

121

42

6,826
213

3,567 1,
3,416! 1,862

1,242

1,902

260

12

20

131

13

4.007

154
10

3,824
3, 692

631
2,909

151

20

112

13

907
773
182

30

106

11

1,794

595

1,063

126

10

18

77

12

6,532
6,069
4,704
67S
403
284
221

242

. 30

3,573

78
11
82

3, 383

3,107

2,296

442

311

58

136

140

19

831

67
6
8

749
666
463

63

137

3

16

78
11.

622
633
351
65
89
28
10

79

4

1,832

36

5

43

1,736

1, 525

1,203

118

197

2

100

111

7

12

"28

845
808
691

112

5
9

28

1

Z 50 cents or less:

POULTRY PRODUCERS AND POULTRY PRODUCTION

23

Table 27- — Land Use on Poultry Farms, by Economic Class
of Farm, for Selected Subregions: 1954

Average per farm, by economic class of farm

Total

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

United States:

Laud in farms... acres. .

Cropland harvested ..acres..

Pastureiand, total acres..

Selected crops:

Corn for all purposes. acres..

Corn for grain acres..

Wheat acres. .

Barlev acres..

Crop production:

Corn for grain bushels - .

Wheat ...bushels .

Oats bushels .

Barley bushels .

Crop sales:

Corn for grain bushels. .

"Wheat bushels. .

Oats bushels..

Barley bushels..

78
20
32

6
5
2
3
1
li

194
43
100

18

57

31

23

6

103
50
64

15
13
4
6
2
13

649
112

240

78

233

99
67
33

95
27
38

8
7
2
4

1

7

275
62

143
28

95
49
36

9

80
21
32

6
5
2
3
1

173
52

115
17

50

37

25

5

69
18

28

4
2
3
(Zl
5

145
39
92
12

33
24
19

66
13
24

4
3
1

(Z)
4

103
21
56
5

17
10
11

51
9
23

3
2

1
1
(Z)
3

59

11

27

2

6
3
4
(Zl

Subregion 2:

Land in farms acres. .

Cropland harvested- acres. .

Pastureiand, total acres. .

Selected crops:

Corn for all purposes acres.

Corn for grain acres..

88
12

15

(Z)
(Z)

121
18
28

1

I

110
16
17

(Z)
1

80
12
13

1

(Z)

70
9

'i

(Z)
(Z)

61
9
11

65

ft

13

(Z)

(Z)

(Z)

All ha v acresj.

Crop production:

11

15
30

14
3

12
6

s
2

6

(Z)

2

1

Crop sales:
Corn for grain bushels..

1

5

(Z)

2

Subregion 3:

Cropland harvested ..acres..

Pastureiand, total acres..

Selected crops:

29
4
5

(Z)
(Z)

71
12
10

I

27
"4

4

(Z)

(Z)

31
4
9

(Z>

(Z)

19
2

3

fZ)
(Z)

2
"l

20
3
1

3
1

9

2
3

3

I

2

1

1

,,

Crop production:

Crop sales:

Subregion 4:

Land in farms .acres. .

Cropland harvested acres. .

Selected crops:

Corn for all purposes acres..

Corn for grain . . _ .acres. .

48
7
12

1
(Z)

76
13
16

1

(Z)

4S
6
13

1

(Z)

41

5
12

(Z)

(Z)

36
4
8

(7,1
IZ)

45
5
11

(Z)
(Z)

is
1

Oats — acres ..

(Z)

(Z)

<Z)

(Z)

5
14

9

24

5
26

4

10

3

5

4

4

4

Crop production:
Corn for grain bushels..

Oats bushels..

2

5

4

(Z)

Crop sales:

2

5

5

1

Z 50 cents or less:

Table 27- — Land Use on Poultry Farms, by Economic Class
of Farm, for Selected Subregions: 1954 — Continued

Subregion and item

Subregion 5:

Land in farms. acres.

Cropland harvested acres

Pastureiand, total acres ,

Selected crops:

Corn for ail purposes acres..

Corn for grain acres..

Wheat.. .acres. .

Oats acres. -

Barley acres..

All hay acres..

Crop production:

Corn for grain .bushels..

Wheat bushels. .

Oats ..bushels..

Barley. bushels . .

Crop sales:

Corn for grain .bushels.

Wheat bushels. .

Oats ...bushels. .

Barley bushels

Subregion 14:

Land in farms acres..

Cropland harvested. acres. .

Pastureiand, total acres

Selected (TOps:

Corn for all purposes. ...acres

( lorn for grain acres

Wheal acres.

Oats acres. .

Barley . ... .. . . acres

All hay ..acres . .

Crop production:

Corn for grain bushels..

Wheat.. bushels.

Oats bushels. .

Barley bushels..

Crop sales:

Corn for grain.. bushels..

Wheat bushels. .

Oats bushels..

Barley ..bushels. .

Subregion 15:

Land in farms. acres. .

Cropland harvested acres..

Pastureiand, total acres..

Selected crops:

Corn for all purposes acres..

Corn for grain acres. .

Wheat acres. .

Oats acres. .

Barley acres..

All hay acres..

Crop production:

Corn for grain bushels. .

Wheat bushels. .

Oats bushels. .

Barley bushels. .

Crop sales:

Com for grain bushels..

Wheat bushels..

Oats _ .bushels. .

Barley bushels. .

Subregion 16:

Land in farms acres..

Cropland harvested acres .

Pastureiand, total acres..

Selected crops:

Corn for all purposes acres

Corn for grain ...acres..

Wheat acres. .

Oats acres. .

Barley. .. acres. .

All hay . acres

Crop production:

Corn for grain bushels .

Wheat bushels..

Oats ..bushels..

Barley bushels. .

Crop sales:

Corn for grain bushels. .

Wheat bushels- -

Oats bushels . .

Barley bushels..

Z 50 cents or less.

Average per farm, by economic class of farm

Total I II III IV

(Z)

155
42
31
10

(Z)
(Z)

185
21

242
17

405
150
61
60

78

106

6

10

389
109
47
51

128
101
22
38

238

132
56
14

1.162
43
34
42

692
38

(Z)
20

123

73
29

.200
477
112
190

210
418
20
37

I
4
1

1
(Z)

172

39

27

7

(Z)

318

56

33

50

30

.;<ik

246
23

706
271
98

108

lis

201

12

37

(Z)

147
54
50

7

4

4
(Z)

103

7
7

(Z)
1

(Z)

1

405

151

55

52

1

1

(Z)

85

17

19

(Z)

3

3

(Z)

(Z)

117
4

6
6
1
(Z)
(Z)
2

19!

17

21

7

354

l.'S
81
55

(Z)
14

4
4

(Z)
1

(Z)

1

106
10
21
4

VI

41
6
3

(Z)

23

16
5

144
46
33
23

(Z)

29
4
4

1
(Zl
(Z)
(Z)
(Z)

41
3

8
I

3
3
1
(Z)
(Z)
2

10
11

15

16

24

FARMERS AND FARM PRODUCTION

Table 27. — Land Use on Poultry Farms, by Economic Class
of Farm, for Selected Sub-regions: 1954 — Continued

Subregion and item

Subregion 18:
Land in farms acres-.

Cropland harvested acres..

Pastureland, total .acres..

Selected crops:

Corn for all purposes acres..

Corn for grain ..acres..

Wheat acres. .

Oats.- acres..

Barley acres..

AUhay acres-
Crop production:

Corn for grain .bushels..

Wheat bushels..

Oats bushels..

Barley bushels..

Crop sales:

Corn for grain .bushels..

Wheat - bushels. .

Oats - bushels. .

Barley - bushels..

Subregion26:

Land in farms acres.

Cropland harvested ..acres.

Pastureland, total acres.

Selected crops:
Corn for all purposes acres-
Corn for grain acres.

Wheat .acres.

Oats - acres.

Barley acres..

AUhay acres.

Crop production:

Corn for grain . bushels.

Wheat bushels.

Oats bushels-
Barley bushels-
Crop sales:

Corn for grain bushels.

Wheat bushels.

Oats. - bushels.

Barley bushels.

Subregion 83:

Land in farms -— acres.

Cropland harvested acres.

Pastureland, total • acres.

Selected crops:

Corn for all purposes acres.

Corn for grain., .acres-
Wheat-- - acres.

Oats acres-
Barley-- acres-
All hay acres.

Crop production:

Corn for grain ... bushels.

Wheat bushels.

Oats .bushels.

Barley bushels.

Crop sales:

Corn for grain bushels.

Wheat bushels.

Oats - bushels-
Barley bushels.

Subregion 42:
Land in farms acres.

Cropland harvested acres.

Pastureland, total acres.

Selected crops:

Corn for all purposes acres.

Corn for grain acres.

Wheat acres.

Oats acres.

Barley.. ...acres.

AUhay acres.

Crop production:

Corn for grain bushels

Wheat .bushels

Oats _ .bushels

Barley bushels

Crop sales:

Corn for grain bushels

Wheat bushels

Oats - bushels

Barley bushels

Z 0.6 or less.

Average per farm, by economic class of farm

Total

120
57
28
77

156
18
84

3
3
2
1
(Z)
11

124
40
47
17

(Z)
(Z)
(Z)

21
3

(Z)
(Z

(Z)

172
38

153

87
65
193

30

328

40
205

187
94
104
132

128

17

41

5

1

(Z)

197
35
92

7
6
1
9
(Z)

85

34

300

7

28

119

2

II III IV

123
30
49

166
94

48

144

202
20
110

6
4
2
2

(Z)„
12

5

5

3

(Z)

179

6
11

4

C.)

Ill
20
46

1

4

(Z)

4

25
128
12

157
20
84

3
3
2
2

(Z)
13

138
15
66

2
2
1
1

(Z)

112
31
41
13

2

2

1

(Z)

(Z)

6
6

(Z)
1

(Z)

(Z)

22

8

29

(Z)

5
6

(■/,)

rz

(Z)
3

5
6
1
1
(Z)

100
12
62

2
1
1
1
(Z)

6

1

2

(Z)

63

3
3

(Z)
(Z

3

6

8

(Z)

4

4
(Z)

12

2
2

1
(Z)
(Z)

3

60

26

5

5

(Z)

83
10
40

(Z)

20

77
10

18

(Z)
(Z)
(Z)

11
4
1

84

9

44

(Z)

47

7

22

Table 27. — Land Use on Poultry Farms, by Economic Class
of Farm, for Selected Subregions: 1954 — Continued

Subregion and item

Subregion 82:

Land in farms .acres..

Cropland harvested acres..

Pastureland, total acres..

Selected crops:

Corn for all purposes acres..

Corn for grain .acres..

Wheat - .acres..

Oats. acres..

Barley - - acres..

All hay - acres-
Crop production:

Corn for grain bushels..

Wheat - bushels..

Oats bushels-
Barley bushels-
Crop sales:

Corn for grain .bushels.

Wheat ..bushels.

Oats bushels-
Barley bushels.

Subregion 115:

Land in farms acres.

Cropland harvested acres.

Pastureland, total acres.

Selected crops:

Corn for all purposes acres..

Corn for grain acres..

Wheat - acres-
Oats - acres-
Barley - acres..

AUhay acres-
Crop production:

Corn for grain bushels..

Wheat bushels- .

Oats ...bushels-
Barley bushels-
Crop sales:

Corn for grain bushels..

Wheat bushels..

Oats. bushels-
Barley bushels-

Subregion 116:
Land in farms acres-
Cropland harvested acres..

Pastureland, total acres-
Selected crops:

Corn for all purposes acres..

Corn for grain ..acres.

Wheat - acres-
Oats - ..acres-
Barley acres-
All bay acres-
Crop production:

Corn for grain ..bushels.

Wheat bushels.

Oats bushels.

Barley - bushels.

Crop sales:

Corn for grain bushels.

Wheat... ...bushels.

Oats.. bushels.

Barley bushels.

Subregion 117:
Land in farms acres-
Cropland harvested acres.

Pastureland, total ...acres.

Selected crops:

Corn for all purposes acres.

Corn for grain acres.

Wheat .acres.

Oats .acres.

Barley acres.

AUhay - acres.

Crop production:

Corn for grain bushels.

Wheat - -bushels.

Oats ..bushels.

Barley .bushels.

Crop sales:

Corn for grain.. bushels.

Wheat bushels.

Oats bushels-
Barley bushels.

Z 0.5 or less.

Average per farm, by economic class of farm

Total I II III IV

(Z)

(Z)

2

(Z)

(Z)

(Z)

(Z)

(Z)
1
1

(Z)
(Z)

1

(Z)
2
3

(Z)
(Z)
(Z)
(Z)

1

1

(Z)
6
11
42

(Z)
5
2
14

162
33

no

2

(Z)

(Z)

3

1

18

6
13
130
22

74
(Z)

(Z)

(Z)

11

10

mi

5

(Z)
(Z)
1
1
2
3

22

1

1
3
(Z)
6
7

37

39

7

140

(Z)

(Z)

1

1

1
24

57
238

(Z)

(Z)

3

(Z)

(Z)
(Z)

1

(Z)

(Z)

(Z)

(Z)
(Z)
(Z)

(7.1

(Z)

(Z)

1

3

35

6

20

(Z)

(Z)

(Z)

1

2

(Z)

CZ)

(Z)
(Z)

<Z>

(Z)

'.'II

(Z)
(Z)
(Z)

(Z)

(Z)

(Z)

12

(Z)
(Z)

(Z)
(Z)

(Z)
(Z)
(Z)

61
12
33

21
6

11

(Z)

16
1
12

(Z)

24

18

(Z)

(Z)

POULTRY PRODUCERS AND POULTRY PRODUCTION

25

Table 27. — Land Use on Poultry Farms, by Economic Class
of Farm, for Selected Subregions: 1954 — Continued

Subregion and Item

Subregion 119:
Land in farms ..acres.

Cropland harvested acres.

Pastureland, total acres-
Selected crops:

Corn for all purposes acres..

Corn for grain acres.

v\ beat acres.

Oats. acres.

ltiirley acres.

All hay acres.

Crop production:

Corn for grain bushels.

Wheat bushels.

Oats bushels -

Barley bushels.

Crop sales:

Corn for grain bushels -

Wheat bushels

Oats bushels.

Barley... bushels.

Average per (arm, by economic class of farm

(Z)
<Z)
2
3

1
5

2
56
114
32

125
45
43

(Z)

239
3S7
126

213
153
81

II III IV

(Z)
(Z)
4
5
1
6

3
93
180
52

(Z)

(Z)

2

3

1
5

1
61
131
35

(Z)

(Z)

1

2

(Z)

(Z)

I

1

(Z)

22
3
11

(Z)
(Z)
(Z)
(Z)
(Z)

1

5
15
6

(Z)

Z 0.5 or less.

Table 28. — Percent Poultry Farms Are of All Commercial
Farms, by Size of Farm, for Selected Poultry Subregions:
1954

Subregion and size of farm

Percent
poultry
farms are

of all
commer-
cial farms

Subregion and size of farm

Percent
poultry
farms are

of all
commer-
cial farms

United States:

13.8
6.6
4.0
1.5

64.4
43.4
27.1
11.9

54.8

30.7

12.1

6.7

56.5

33.4

16.1

7.8

53.7
33.0
17.9
4.2

50.5
14.3

5.5
4.7

74.1
32.7
18.5
8.4

63.2

18.8
7.1
2.8

71.7
39.0
26.8
12.6

Subregion 26:

61.7

30 to 69 acres

25 5

70 to 139 acres

18.7

13.5

Subregion 2:

Subregion 33 :

30 to 69 acres

30 to 69 acres. . .

70 to 139 acres

70 to 139 acres

21.3

18.2

Subregion 3:

Subregion 42:

30 to 69 acres

22.9

70 to 139 acres

21.8

18.5

10.3

Subregion 4:

Subregion 82:

30 to 69 acres

70 to 139 acres

58.2

30.8

70 to 139 acres...

15.4

Subregion 5:

140 acres and over

Subregion 115:

7.2

30 to 69 acres ...

70 to 139 acres

32.1

30 to 69 acres...

5.8

Subregion 14:

70 to 139 acres...

6.8

Under 29 acres..

4.5

30 to 69 acres

Subregion 116:

70 to 139 acres... . ..

140 acres and over.. .. ._ _.

16.0

Subregion 15:

30 to 69 acres-..

3. 1

Under 29 acres..

1 3

30to69acres

1.1

70 to 139 acres

Subregion 117:

Subregion 16:

33.8

30 to 69 acres

30 to 69 acres...

3.6

70 to 139 acres

2.4

Subregion 119:

Subregion 18:
Under 29 acres

30.1

30 to 69 acres

30 to 69 acres..

13.1

70 to 139 acres

70 to 139 acres

8.3

140 acres and over...

4.9

Table 29. — Percent Distribution of Operators of Poultry
Farms in Each Economic Class, by Age, for Selected
Poultry Subregions: 1954

Subregion and age group

Percent distribution of operators In each
economic class of farm

Total

I

100
1
17
30
29
17
6

II

III

IV

V

VI

United States:
Total

100
1
10
20
22
24
24

100

15
26
28
21
9

100

12
24
24
25
14

100

1

9
19
25
26
20

100

1

8
16
20
25
30

100
(Z)

24

57

Subregion 2:
Total

100
1
11
20
26
22
20

100

100

100
1
9
24
25
25
16

100
2
11
22
25
23
17

100
1
9
7
31
18
34

100

Under 25 years

25 to 34 years

16
27
34
15
8

15
25
27
23
10

2

5

10

20

63

Subregion 3:
Total..

100
(Z)
9
21
19
27
24

100

13

28

29

24

6

ioo
1

14
29
28
20
8

100

100

100
1
10
17
17
29
26

100

7
20
20
32
21

8
21
15
28
28

4

2
26

68

Subregion 4:
Total..

100
1
10
22
25
24
18

100
1
16
35
16
26
6

100
2
14
25
24
25
10

100

4

23
33
25
15

100
1
10
20
28
22
19

100

100

Under 25 vears

25 to 34 years

4
12
29
23
32

3
6

22

53

Subregion 5:
Total

100
3

8
17
26
28
18

100
1
20
29
23
19
8

100
1

7
22
35
24
11

100

2
10
13
21
35
18

100
1
3
11
33
35
17

100

4
7
13
21
25
30

100

4
16

7

Subregion 14:
Total

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

Under 25 years

25 to 34 vears

11
18
27
28

16

27

46
18
9

19
24
24
24
10

6
14
26
43
11

5
16
42
21
16

33

13
33
21

Subregion 15:
Total

100
1
8

22
28
22
19

100
1
15
29
31
18

100
(Z)
9
25
31
23
12

100
2
5
23
30
23
17

100

100

100

Under 25 years .

6
13
28
27
26

3
13
18
24
42

2

60

Subregion 16:
Total

100
3
17
20
20
17
23

100

2

29

30

27

4

8

100
8
20
33
21
9
9

100
3

19
28
20
21
9

100

18
14
22
18
28

100
2
15
16
21
23
23

Under 25 years...

1

25 to 34 years

3

8

13

63

Subregion 18:
Total

100
2
14
25
23
21
15

100
6
14
29
30
18
3

100
2
20
20
29
24
5

100

16
31
34
13
6

100
1

13
31
16
20
19

100
1
12
23
16
24
24

25 to 34 years

2

10

37

49

Subregion 26:
Total

100
(Z)
12
26
22
23
17

100

100

100

100
1
7
28
24
29
11

100

100

Under25 years

14

25
34

19

8

15
25
20
25
15

18
26
25
14
17

12
25

14
28
21

12

21

24

43

Subregion 33:
Total _

100
1
13
27
26
18
15

100
3
14
37
21
14
11

100

19
36
22
14
9

100
3
12
30
27
19
9

100

12

20
28
20
19

100

13

28
24
18
16

100

25 to 34 years..

8

17

24

21

30

Z Less than 0.5 percent.

26

FARMERS AND FARM PRODUCTION

Table 29. — Percent Distribution of Operators of Poultry
Farms in Each Economic Class, by Age, for Selected
Poultry Subregions: 1954 — Continued

Subregion and age group

Percent distribution of operators in each
economic class of farm

Total

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

Subregion 42:
Total

100
1

14
29
25
19
12

100

(Z)

16

39

31
6
8

100
1
15
37
26
17
4

100
2
17
26
27
19
9

100

1

15
25
24
19
16

100
2
11
26
25
21
15

100

4

10

8

31

47

Subregion 82:
Total _ _

100
1
12
23
25
24
15

100

100

100

100
2
10
14
27
28
19

100

10
19
29
35

100

18
37
27
13

5

15

31

28

20

6

15
25
26
23
11

12

8

42

38

Subregion 115:
Total ...

100
(Z)
9
20
26
28
17

100

12
28
33
23
4

100
(Z)
11
23
32
24
10

100
(Z)
6
16
23
30
26

100

10
18
22
32
18

100
2
6
19
19
30
24

100

11

22

30

37

Subregion 116:
Total

100
1

11
19
24
27
18

100

' 14
21
31
21
13

100
1
12
24
27
22
14

100
1
10
20
23
30
16

100

7
17
20
39
17

100
2
13
8
14
33
30

100

5

5

22

26
42

Subregion 117:
Total

100
1
9
20
27
26
17

100

12
26
34
20
8

100
1
14
27
27
26
5

100

100

100

100

5
15

7
15

6
21
17
20
30

8

28 29
34 29
18 20

24

8

00

Subregion 119:
Total

100
1
8
17
26
27
21

100
9

100
1
10

100
1
9
21
28
26
15

100
1
7
15
23
30
24

100

1
8
12
25
28
26

100

2

16 29
41 28
29 23
6

5

8

28

57

Z Less than 0.5 percent.

Table 30. — Source of Labor on Poultry Farms, by Economic
Class of Farm, for Selected Poultry Subregions: 1954

Economic class

of farn

Total

1.16
0.65
0.29
0.21

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

United States:
Alan-equivalent per farm, total

2.71
0.83
0.36
1.52

1.43

0.77
0.38
0.27

1.13

0.07
0.36
0.10

0.94
0.59
0.30
0.05

0.77

0.51
0.24
0.02

0.81

0.65

0.14

0.01

Subregion 2:
Man-equivalent per farm, total

1.29
0.66
0.22
0.41

2.79
0.77
0.28
1.74

1.39
0.79
0.28
0.32

1.00
0.61
0.26
0.13

0.87
0.66
0.20
0.11

0.66
0.48
0.13
0.05

0.78
0.66

Unpaid family labor

0.07
0.05

Subregion 3 :
Man-equivalent per farm, total

1.40
0.54
0.28
0.48

3.90
0.89
0.42
2.69

1.84

0.77
0.34
0.73

1.12
0.66
0.24
0.22

0.89
0.50
0.27
0.12

0.74
0.45
0.26
0.03

0.80
0.66

0.12

0.02

Subregion 4:
Man-equivalent per farm, total

1.30
0.66
0.31
0.33

2.55
0.89
0.28
1.38

1.28
0.75
0.32
0.21

1.13

0.64
0.39
0.10

0.90
0.55
0.32
0.03

0.72
0.42
0.25
0.05

0.81
0.61

0 20

(Z)

Subregion 6:

1.39
0.68
0.37
0.34

2.69
0.82
0.60
1.37

1.61
0.79
0.43
0.39

1.24
0.71
0.37
0.16

1.03

0.68
0.34
0.11

0.82
0.50
0.26
0.06

0.76
0.56

0.18

0.02

Table 30. — Source of Labor on Poultry Farms, by Economic
Class of Farm, for Selected Poultry Subregions: 1954 —
Continued

Subregion and item

Economic class

of farrr

Total

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

Subregion 14:
Man-equivalent per farm, total

1.22
0.68
0.30
0.24

2.40
0.88
0.47
1.05

1.52
0.83
0.33
0.36

1.02
0.64
0.33
0.05

0.78
0.49
0.21
0.08

0.76
0.44
0.29
0.03

0.63

0.53

Unpaid family labor _

Subregion 15:

Man-equivalent per farm, total

Operator ..

1.50
0.71
0.31
0.48

3.03
0.82
0.31
1.90

1.50

0.79
0.38
0.33

1.10
0.66
0.33
0.11

0.96
0.58
0.27
0.11

0.75
0.52
0.22
0.01

0.77
0.66
0.09

0.02

Subregion 16:

Man-equivalent per farm, total

Operator. .

Unpaid family labor

1.13
0.61
0.29
0.23

3.22

0.84
0.32
2.06

1.51
0.75
0.44
0.32

1.04
0.69
0.29
0.06

0.84
0.52
0.27
0.05

0.72
0.44
0.26
0.02

0.76
0.61
0.14
0.01

Subregion 18:
Man-equivalent per farm, total
Operator _._ ..

1.15
0.62
0.25
0.28

2.57
0.77
0.34
1.46

1.26
0.84
0.27
0.15

0.96
0.58
0.28
0.10

0.82
0.51
0. 26
0.05

0.64
0.43
0.19
0.02

0.83
0.71
0.11

0.01

Subregion 26:
Man-equivalent per farm, total
Operator

1.03
0.63
0.31
0.09

1.74
0.85
0.48
0.41

1.20

0.69
0.33
0.18

1.06
0.60
0.38
0.08

0.94

0.62
0.27
0.05

0.83
0.57
0.25
0.01

0.79

0.65
0.13

Ilired labor ... ..

0.01

Subregion 33:
Man-equivalent per farm, total

1.09
0.70
0.31
0.08

1.90
0.82
0.40
0.68

1.30
0.77
0.39
0. 14

1.06
0.69
0.33
0.04

0.99
0.64
0.31
0.04

0.89
0.64
0.23
0.02

1.04
0 80

0 24

(Z)

Subregion 42:
Man-equivalent per farm, total

1.06
0.65
0.28
0.13

1.14
0.70
0.31
0.13

1.92
0.74
0.30
0.88

2.11

0.78
0.24
1.09

1.33
0.74
0.40
0.19

1.27
0.75
0.41
0.11

1.03
0.67
0.29
0.07

1.07
0.72
0.30
0.05

0.83
0.50
0.24
0.03

0.97
0.65
0.30
0.02

0.75
0.55
0.18
0.02

0.79

0.52
0.26
0.01

0.93
0.75

0.17

Hired labor...

Subregion 82:
Man-equivalent per farm, total

0.01

0.85
0.76

0.09

(Z)

Subregion 115:
Man-equivalent per farm, total

1.31
0.67
0.36
0.28

2.63
0.93
0.37
1.33

1.31
0.75
0.39
0.17

1.08
0.60
0.37
0.11

0.88
0.51
0.34
0.03

0.83
0.52
0.30
0.01

1.05
0.79

0.24

0.02

Subregion 116:

Man-equivalent per farm, total

Operator..

1.49
0.73
0.33
0.43

2.53

ii s:;
0.31
1.39

1.43
0.82
0.33
0.28

1.11
0.64
0.39
0.08

1.02

0.65
0.35
0.02

0.86
0.57
0.28
0.01

1.11
0.79
0.24

0.08

Subregion 117:
Man-equivalent per farm, total

1.27
0.58
0.S6
0.23

2.17
0.82
0.34
1.01

1.50
0.84
0.47
0.19

1.12
0.66
0.38
0.08

0.83
0.50
0.30
0.03

0.68
0.42
0.25
0.01

0.95
0.69

0.23

0.03

Subregion 119:
Man-equivalent per farm, total

1.18
0.66
0.35
0.17

2.72
0.87
0.49
1.36

1.49
0 80
0.46
0 23

1.15
0.67
0.42
0.06

0.93
0.60
0.30
0.03

0.80
0 52
0.27
0.01

0.84
0.69

0.14

0.01

Z 0.005 or less.

Z 0.005 or less.

Broiler production in poultry subregions. — There are great dif-
ferences between the distribution of broiler production and the
production of eggs within the 16 selected poultry subregions.
More than half (53 percent) of the value of broilers sold came from
the 16 poultry subregions in 1954, whereas only 32 percent of the
eggs were sold from these 16 areas. Five of these subregions
(15, 42, 82, 115, and 116) are among the outstanding centers of
broiler production in the entire country. Sussex County in Dela-
ware, in subregion 15, is by far the leading county. Of the 3,229
farms in that county, 1,299 produced broilers in 1954 and the
average number sold per farm exceeded 40,000.

POULTRY PRODUCERS AND POULTRY PRODUCTION

27

Labor use and gross sales per man-equivalent. — Poultry
farms in general are somewhat more than one-man operations.
The average poultry farm requires one and one-sixth men. The
labor requirement declines rather sharply with reduced sales per
farm. The man-equivalent per farm for Class I farms was almost
four times that required for Class V and VI farms.

The average gross sales per man-equivalent was $8,300 for all
poultry farms. Both the gross sales and the income above
specified expenses decreased with the decrease in size of operation,
as measured by economic class of farm. For all poultry farms in
the United States, the average gross income per man-equivalent
for farms in each economic class from I to VI was, in that order —
$19,000; $11,000; $6,500; $4,000; $2,400; and $800. These
ratios were similar in the separate subregions. For comparison,
the sales per man-equivalent for farms in Classes I and VI for sub-
region 15 were $20,000 and $800; in subregion 82, $21,000 and $900.

Table 31. — Average Number of Livestock and Poultry Per
Farm, for Poultry Farms, by Economic Class of Farm,
for Selected Poultry Subregions: 1954

Table 31. — Average Number of Livestock and Poultry Per
Farm, for Poultry Farms, by Economic Class of Farm,
for Selected Poultry Subregions: 1954 — Continued

Subregions and item

A verage number per farm by economic class of farm

Total

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

United States:

(Z)
7
2

4

696

(Z)

17

3

11

1.993

(Z)
10

2

5

1,157

(Z)_

2
4

Tor,

(Z)
6
2
3

493

(Z)
5
1
2

326

(Z)
4

Milk cows

Hogs and pigs .

Chickens 4 months old and over.

1

1

181

Subregion 2:

(Z)
3

1

1

1,484

(Z)

4

2

1

4, f.l4

(Z)

5

2

2

1,539

(Z)
2
1

(Z)

963

(Z)

2

1

(Z)

703

(Z)

2

1

(Z)

494

(Z)
2

1

(Z)
179

Chickens 4 months old and over.

Subregion 3 :

(Z)
1

(Z)

1

1,091

(Z)
2

1
(Z)
2, M0

(Z)

1

(Z)

(Z)

1,814

(Z)
2
1

(Z)
1,042

(Z)
1
(Z)
(Z)
618

<Z)
(Z)
(Z)
(Z)
308

(Z)
1

(Z)
5

Chickens 4 months old and over.

262

Subregion 4:

(Z)
3
1

(Z)
1,178

(Z)

7

3

1

2, 504

(Z)
3
2

(Z)
1,509

(Z)
2
1

(Z)
981

(Z)
1
(Z)
(Z)
601

(Z)

2

1

(Z)

377

(Z)

1

1

Chickens 4 months old and over.

219

Subregion 5 :

(Z)

1

1

1

1,965

(Z)
2

1

1

4, 563

(Z)

1

(Z)

(Z)

2.948

(Z)
2
1

(Z)
1, 520

(Z)

1

(Z>

1

918

(Z)
1
1
1

526

1

1

(Z)
298

Chickens 4 months old and over.

Subregion 14:

(Z)

(Z)

(Z)

1

1,324

4

725

(Z)
(Z)
(Z)
(Z)
2.332

(Z)

1

<Z)

(Z)

1.234

(Z)
(Z)
(Z)

1

752

(Z)
(Z)
(Z)
(Z)
543

(Z)
(Z)
(Z)

170

Chickens 4 months old and over.

Subregion 15:

(Z)

2

1

4

1.308

(Z)

5

1

7

1,711

(Z)

2

1

4

1,763

(Z)
1

(Z)
3
1,183

1

2

650

(Z)
2
1
3

467

(Z)

Milk cows..

(Z)

Chickens 4 month-; old and over.

240

Subregion 16:

<Z)

7

2

5

839

(Z)

33

6

9

3,004

(Z)

14

5

7

1,366

(Z)

6

1

5

906

(Z)
4
1
5

551

(Z)
2
1
3

366

(Z)

Milk cows ... ._

2

Chickens 4 months old and over.

175

Subregion 18 :

(Z)

14

3

6

208

1

38

5

10

426

1

22

5

9

229

(Z)

10

3

5

174

(Z)
8
2
4

155

(Z)
4
1
3

139

(Z)

Hogs and pigs

Chickens 4 months old and over.

2
140

Subregions and item

Average number per farm by economic class of farm

Total

I

II

III

rv

V

VI

Subregion 26:

1

11

2

5

123

1

32

3

10

149

1

lfi

2

7

149

1

10

3

5

149

1

7

3

4

102

1
6
2
3
90

Chickens 4 months old and over.

81

Subregion 33:

1
5
2
4
423

1

14

3

5

2.036

1

7

2

5

577

1
5
2
3
317

1
5
2
3
327

1
4
2
3
262

2

:s

Chickens 4 months old and over.

258

Subregion 42:

1
8
2
4
285

1

23

4

5

819

1
12
2

5
349

1
6
2
3
228

1
5
1

3
214

1
4
1
2
202

1

All cattle and calves

2

Chickens 4 months old and over.

167

Subregion 82:

(Zi

11

4

3

90

(Z)
15
4
10
61

<Z)

14
6
2

34

(Z)

11

4

3

112

1
9
4
1

105

(Z)
5
2
1

153

1

5

■>

•?

Chickens 4 months old and over.

118

Subregion 115:

(Z)

1

(Z)

(Z)

1.892

(Z)

3

(Z)

1

4,686

(Z)
(Z)
(Z)
(Z)
2,273

(Z)
(Z)
(Z)
(Z)
1.313

(Z)
1
(Z)
(Z)
782

(Z)

1

(Z)

1

522

1

Milk cows ...

(Z)

(Z)
332

Chickens 4 months old and over.

Subregion 116:

(Z)

5

1

1

1.358

(Z)

11

2

1

1,843

(Z)

4

1

1

1,911

(Z)
4
1

(Z)
1,174

(Z)

(Z)"
(Z)
797

(Z)
1
(Z)
(Z)
636

(Z)
3
1

All cattle and calves.,

Milk cows

Chickens 4 months old and over.

318

Subregion 117:

(Z)

3

1

1

1,758

(Z)
5

(Z)

3

3,972

(Z)
4
1
(Z)
2,327

(Z)

4

1

2

1,303

(Z)
2

(Z)
(Z)
696

(Z)
1
(Z)
(Z)
517

(Z)
1

All cattle and calves.. .

(Z)
(Z)
371

Flogs and pigs

Chickens 4 months old and over.

Subregion 119:

(Z)
6
2
1

824

(Z)
19
3

1

2,131

(Z)

7

1
1,335

(Z)
6
2
2

939

(Z)
4
2
1

529

(Z)
4
1
1

325

(Z)
3
1

All cattle and calves

Hogs and pigs

Chickens 4 months old and over-

(Z)
301

Z 0.5 or less.

Z 0.5 or less.

Work off farm. — About three-fifths of the operators of poultry
farms spent full-time on their farms. Of the operators of Class
I farms, three-fourths reported no work other than on their own
farms but of the operators of Class V farms, more than half re-
ported work off their farm. Differences among subregions are
pronounced in this respect. The proportion reporting no off-
farm work was highest in subregions 5 and 116 where it exceeded
two-thirds, with less than one-fifth of the operators of Class I
farms reporting no off-farm work. At the other extreme were
subregions 18 and 26 where full-time operators represented little
more than half of all operators.

Farm mechanization and home conveniences. — Poultry farms
are preeminently single-enterprise farms engaged in some phase of
the production of poultry or eggs. Generally, feed is bought
ready to use and little home-grown feed is provided. Therefore,
machinery for preparing soil and harvesting crops is not the large
item on poultry farms that it is on many other types of farms.
About half the poultry farms have tractors and motortrucks;
three-fourths have automobiles.

28

FARMERS AND FARM PRODUCTION

Table 32. — Gross Sales and Specified Expenditures Per Farm,
for Poultry Farms, by Economic Class of Farm, for
Selected Poultry Subregions: 1954

Subregion and item

United States :

Gross sales

Selected expenses, total

Feed for livestock and poultry.. .

Hired labor -

Machine hire —

Gasoline and other petroleum

products.- —

Fertilizer

Lime...

Gross sales minus selected ex-
penses. --

Subregion 2:

Gross sales

Selected expenses, total

Feed for livestock and poultry —

Hired labor

Machine hire

Gasoline and other petroleum

products

Fertilizer..

Lime

Gross sales minus selected ex-
penses..

Subregion 3:

Gross sales —

Selected expenses, total

Feed for livestock and poultry —

Hired labor

Machine hire

Gasoline and other petroleum

products

Fertilizer

Lime

Gross sales minus selected ex-
penses

Subregion 4:

Gross sales

Selected expenses, total

Feed for livestock and poultry

Hired labor.

Machine hire

Gasoline and other petroleum

products.

Fertilizer..

Lime

Gross sales minus selected ex-
penses

Subregion 5 :

Gross sales

Selected expenses, total

Feed for livestock and poultry....

Hired labor

Machine hire

Gasoline and other petroleum

products

Fertilizer

Lime

Gross sales minus selected ex-
penses

Subregion 14:

Gross sales.

Selected expenses, total

Feed for livestock and poultry.. .

Hired labor

Machine hire

Gasoline and other petroleum

products

Fertilizer

Lime

Gross sales minus selected ex-
penses

Subregion 15:

Gross sales

Selected expenses, total

Feed for livestock and poultry

Hired labor

Machine hire

Gasoline and other petroleum

products

Fertilizer.

Lime

Gross sales minus selected ex-
penses

Z 60 cents or less.

Average per farm by economic class of farm
(dollars)

Total

9.634

7. 100

6,336

418

£8

182
97
9

2,534

14, 731

10,844

9.

800

26

180
29
3

3,887

10, 353

9.036

7, "

894

30

200
25
3

1.317

15.370

11. 753

10, 785

675

33

210
42
8

3.671

12. 417

10. 748

9,586

789

46

224
90
13

10. 661

8,462

7,644

468

50

197
92
11

2,199

18,646

15,043

13. 581

895,

75

287
184,
21

3, 603

49.400

35. 094

31.024

2,961

129

672

281

27

53. 174

36.81

32, 771

3,405

53

520

64

5

16, 356

42, 086
34.290
28. 705
4,769
74

666

68

7,796

51. 370

36, 766

33, 064

2,810

60

649
153
30

14,604

43. 762

35, 040

30.790

3, 216

97

671
237

8,722

25, 118

30, 971

27. 972

2,048

119

622

182
28

-5 853

61,511

47,018

42,115

3. 526

112

754

456

55

III IV

15. 727

11,589

10, 556

524

77

270
148
14

16, 242

11,496

10.590

625

30

210

36

5

4,746

16. 517
14. 272
12, 570
1, 335
24

297
38

2.245

15. 580

11.787

11,048

436

44

218
34

7

3,793

16, 140
14.017
12. 689

925
59

234

96
14

2.123

16, 9112

11.039

9.857

705

58

252
150
17

5.863

16,213

13,418

12, 225

610

85

291
187
20

2,795

7.359

5. 635

5,089

204

64

165

104

9

1.724

7, 051

6.007

5,600

249

24

101
28

5

1,044

7,257

6.343

5,724

401

18

160

38

2

914

6,'

7. 150

6.797

214

20

102
14
3

7,643

7.024

6,307

383

48

205
73
8

619

8.050

5,272

4,895

102

157

68

2

2.778

7,772

7, 265

6,751

213

49

145

98

3.808

3.043

2, 685

103

54

120
73

765

3, 869

3, 806

3. 560

210

16

104
6
(Z)

3.822

4, 191

:i, s.'i
213
56

95
4
2

3,838

3.840

3.661

72

21

73
12

1

3.941

4,334

3,904

260

23

104
34

-393

3,885

3,255

2,935

158

49

57
46
10

630

3,921

3,889

3,377

211

68

118
99
16

32

1,878

1, 462

1,248

44

39

79
47

416

1,803

1,916

1,750

97

17

37
15

(Z)

-113

1,806

1,818

1,680

57

2.190

1.1

1,709

108

19

42

7
3

302

2.158

2.069

1,734

146

21

83

77

1,896

1,892

1,767

53

5

55
8
4

4

1,910

1,700

1,501

24

32

74
66
3

210

VI

666
581
464
22
21

44
27
3

85

617

1,091

936

91

42
13
1

723

1.181

1,081

29

14

52
5
(Z)

-458

763

741

686

6

13

24
12

757
1,023

846
42
12

62
49
12

633

465

389

3

50
21
2

654
914
745
36
68

40

18

7

-260

Table 32. — Gross Sales and Specified Expenditures Per Farm,
for Poultry Farms, by Economic Class of Farm, for
Selected Poultry Subregions: 1954 — Continued

Subregion and item

Subregion 16:

Gross sales..

Selected expenses, total

Feed for livestock and poultry. ..

Hired labor

Machine hire

Gasoline and other petroleum

products

Fertilizer

Lime

Gross sales minus selected ex-
penses

Subregion 18:
Gross sale

Selected expenses, total

Feed for livestock and poultry. ..

Hired labor

Machine hire

Gasoline and other petroleum

products

Fertilizer

Lime

Gross sales minus selected ex-
penses

Subregion 26:

Gross sales

Selected expenses, total

Feed for livestock and poultry...

Hired labor

Machine hire

Gasoline and other petroleum

products

Fertilizer

Lime

Gross sales minus selected ex-
penses

Subregion 33:

Gross sales

Selected expenses, total

Feed for livestock and poultry...

Hired labor

Machine hire

Gasoline and other petroleum

products

Fertilizer

Lime

Gross sales minus selected ex-
penses.

Subregion 42:

Gro

Selected expenses, total...

Feed for livestock and poultry....

Hired labor

Machine hire

Gasoline and other petroleum

products

Fertilizer

Lime...

Gross sales minus selected ex-
penses _

Subregion 82:

Gross sales

Selected expenses, total

Feed for livestock and poultry

Hired labor

Machine hire

Gasoline and other petroleum
products

Fertilizer

Lime

Gross sales minus selected ex-
penses _

Subregion 115:

Grosssales

Selected expenses, total..

Feed for livestock and poultry

Hired labor

Machine hire

Gasoline and other petroleum

products

Fertilizer

Lime, _

Gross sales minus selected ex-
penses

Z 60 cents or less.

Average per farm by economic class of farm
(dollars)

Total

9, 240

6,288

5,463

365

177
178
17

2,952

12, 381

8.136

7. 383

390

62

200

94

7

8.979

6,252

5, 906

151

36

101
49

2,727

7,747

5,425

5,117

111

30

81
79

7

2.322

9.746

6,611

6,15.5

174

35

112
127

3,135

10,713

8,300

7.807

224

73

142
50
4

IS, 332

12, 558

11,314

948

48

240
8
(Z)

2,774

53,116
34. 298
29,572
3,248
224

595
602

5;

18,818

III

47,001

31.875

28, 666

2,050

153

764
234

15, 126

42, 051

29,695

28,511

643

53

346
118
24

12. 356

41,855

25.964

24,481

945

64

342

125
17

15,891

42, 886

29, 125

27, 073

1,179

114

378

357

24

13,761

44. 630

35,412

32,713

1,879

189

497

121

13

9,218

52, sl'J
40, 037
34, 772
4,491
103

645
26
(Z)

16, 133

10, 024

8,761

499

144

285
317

18

6.109

15,374

9.209

8,551

208

81

236
125

15,693

11,352

10.808

283

43

138

69

11

4.341

15,333

10, 706

10,236

192

44

141

86

7

4,627

15,3117

10. 061

9,422

252

37

176
164
10

5,306

15,104

11,716

11,179

192

93

182
66
4

3,388

15,943

13, 121

12, 250

590

239
4
(Z)

7,297

5,404

4,835

103

201

158

19

7,339

4,

4,412

139

56

116

80

5

2, 531

7,548

5,19'

4,873

130

43

97
43
11

2,351

7,287

5,240

4, 993

61

34

65
82
5

2,047

7,422

5, 002

4,638

96

37

126

7

2. 420

7,741

5.719

5. 395

83

116
50

7,607

7,364

6,804

361

35

161
3

3,904

3,144

2,695

75

92

121

143

18

760

4,052
2,651
2,3'

77
44

75
63

3,801

2.422

2,193

77

31

75

40

6

1,379

3,771

3,009

2,789

60

22

55
76
7

762

4,001

2, 925

2,735

36

24

49
77
4

1,082

3,835

3,078

2,900

27

46

78

26

1

757

3, 986

3, 953

3,674

96

45

128
10
(Z)

33

1,850

1,593

1,369

33

39

72
68
12

257

1,893

1,296

1,179

27

21

28
38
3

697

1,967

1,179

1,061

12

25

43
34
4

788

2, 086

1,475

1,307

32

24

43
61

8

611

,587

,440

20

18

38

65

1,776

1,310

1,215

11

28

39
17

1,963

2, 0116

1,871

29

46

87
3

(Z)

-73

VI

678
674
655
20
22

31
44
2

649

524

458

14

17

11
21
3

125

650

371

277

23

16

24

30

1

279

831

778

640

7

11

32
83
5

691
830
719

25
68

-139

765

586

494

5

24

39

23

1

179

761

1,396

1,194

76

8

115
3

POULTRY PRODUCERS AND POULTRY PRODUCTION

29

Table 32. — Gross Sales and Specified Expenditures Per Farm, Practically all poultry farms have electricity and a high pro-

for Poultry Farms, by Economic Class of Farm, for portion have piped running water. Roughly two-thirds have

Selected Poultr-y Subregions: 1954 — Continued telephones, about half television sets, and somewhat less than

half, home freezers. About two-thirds of the farms in Class I
have television sets and home freezers compared with less than
one-third of the farms in Class VI.

Production expenses. — Expenditures on poultry farms arc
high. Expenses were particularly high in relation to income in
1954, as compared with earlier years, because of the relatively
low prices for broilers. The total of specified expenses in 1954
generally ranged from (10 to 90 percent of the sales reported among
the areas and classes of farms. Cost of feed is the largest item of
expense. Of the six items included in the 1954 Census, feed
represented 89 percent of the total expense for all poultry farms
in the country. The cither specified costs were; hired labor, 6
percent; gasoline and other petroleum fuel and oil, 2.6 percent;
cost of machine hire, fertilizer, and lime, 2.4 percent. In some
cases the total of specified expenses exceeded gross sales, in 1954.
This situation sometimes arose when the number of farms in the
group was very small and one or more of the farms in the group
were just starting in the poultry business that year, and when the
gross sales of poultry products were not fully reported. On some
of the farms in Classes V and VI, expenditures exceeded gross
sales because considerable quantities of poultry products were
consumed on farms.

The six specified expenditures do not, of course, represent all
of the costs on poultry farms. It is significant, however, that the
proportion that feed is of the total specified expenditures varies
little with the size of operation as measured by economic class of
farm. Feed represents between 80 and 90 percent of the total
in each economic class. Hired labor, the next largest item,
ranges from 8 percent for Class I farms to 3 percent for the poul-
try farms with the smallest gross sales.

Work Off the Farm and Other Income for Poultry Farms, by Economic Class of Farm, for Selected Poultry

Subregions: 1954

Subregion and item

Average per farm by economic class of farm
(dollars)

Total

I

11

III

IV

V

VI

Subregion 116:

23,265
17,355
15,534
1,360
108

302

44

I

5,910

67,891

49. 567
13,979

4.443
219

783

138

5

18, 324

17,822
13,681

12. 198

908

89

259
26

1

4,111

7,908

5,913

5,416

251

103

132
11

4,224
3, 775

:;..v.n
64
28

79
10

2, 2S4

2. 165

2,011

41

63

49

1

835

1,192

Feed for livestock and poultry

775
255

11

Gasoline and other petroleum

149

•y

Gross sales minus selected ex-

1,995

449

119

-357

Subregion 117:

15,442

12, 925

11,969

695

41

214
6
(Z)

2,517

54,048
41,800
38,244
3,017
62

462

14

1

12, 248

16,332
14,123
13,208

576
76

259
4
(Z)

2,209

7,497

6, 998

!'.. 548

228

25

190

3,721
4,028

:i,Mti
104
16

102
3

2.440

2, 283

2,160

41

11

68
3

(Z)

157

773

Selected expenses, total

Feed for livestock and poultry

1,385

1.235

101

11

Gasoline and other petroleum

37

1

Gross sales minus selected ex-

499

-307

-612

Subregion 119:

6,098

6, 695

6,018

402

54

178

37

6

2,403

47,813
30, 538
26. 272
3,246
157

646
184
33

17,275

15,034

11.125

10,143

561

83

283
53
2

3,909

6,826

5.916

5,548

147

48

154

40

9

880

3,573

2,894

2,661

64

43

114
10
2

679

1,832

1,593

1,460

30

19

71
12
1

239

886

Selected expenses, total

Feed for livestock and poultry

966

858

33

30

Gasoline and other petroleum

36

8

1

Gross sales minus selected ex-

-SO

Z 50 cents or less

Table 33.-

Ecouomie class of farm

Total

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

United States:
Percent of farms reporting:

60.6
13.1

5.2
18.9
23.3

74.2
10.0

3.3
11.0

9.8

63.7
15.3
5.2
14.7
16.0

55.4
13.6
6.7
22.5
25.7

49.6
12.7

7.4
28.5
34.7

47.1

11.6

7.4

31.8

45.5

81.3

13.7

Income of operator and members of family greater than value of all farm products sold__

Subregion 2 :
Percent of farms reporting:

60.1
12.2
3.7
22.2
25.3

72.4
5.2
2.6
19.8
10.4

69.0
12.9
2.6
15.5

15.5

50.0
13.8
6.4
25.5
20.2

44.6
14.5
6.0
31.3
38.6

49.3

10.4
3.0

35.8
67.2

82.3

17.7

Income of operator and members of family greater than value of all farm products sold..

Subregion 3:
Percent of farms reporting:

65. 5
5.3
3.6
23. 1
24. 9

91.3

68, 6
6. 9
6.9
16.7
13.7

67.7
5.0
4.0
18.2
14.1

54.8

3.2

1.1

37. 6

40.9

41.3
8.2
5.9
43.4
57.7

93.6

6.4

1 ::
4.8

Income of operator and members of family greater than value of all farm products sold

Subregion 4:
Percent of farms reporting:

64 6
5.0
4.3
24.0
24.0

86. 2
4.9
2.0
4.9
3.0

68.2
7.0
7.0
17.2
17.2

58.0

6.8

5.7

29.5

25.0

53.5
4.0
3.0

39.4
32.3

48.0
2.0

3.9
41.2
53.9

84.4

3.1

Income of operator and members of family greater than value of all farm products sold..

Subregion 5:
Percent of farms reporting:

68.9
5.5

3.0
17.2
17.0

82.4
2.3

75.2
7.0
3.7
8.4
5.0

73.5
3.0
1.8
21.1
19.9

52.5

8.6

4.3

28.8

34.5

52.4

6.0

6.0

29.8

36.9

76.4

3. 6

100 to 199 days of off-farm work _ _ . ...

11.7
2.0

Income of operator and members .of family greater than value of all farm products sold. .

30

FARMERS AND FARM PRODUCTION

Table 33. — Work Off the Farm and Other Income for Poultry Farms, by Economic Class of Farm, for Selected Poultry

Subregions: 1954 — Continued

Subregion and item

Economic class of farm

Total

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

Subregion 14:
Percent of farms reporting:

66.2

5.3

3.8

21.1

20.3

83.3

8.3

79.1
4.7
7.0
9.3
4.7

62.9
2.9
2.9

22.9
37.1

47.4
5.3

40.0

6.7

6.7

46.7

40.0

77.8

11.1

8.3

42.1
31.6

Income of operator and members of family greater than value of all farm products sold..

Subregion 15:
Percent of farms reporting:

67.7

9.5

5.3

16.2

18.9

74.4
7.7
3.6
12.5
11.3

71.8
10.0
5.6
12.0
14.1

60.9
8.9

5.7
22.4
22.8

55.0

8.3

8.9

26.0

37.9

56.7
11.7
5.0
25.8
33.3

85.1

12.6

Income of operator and members of family greater than value of all farm products sold- -

Subregion 16:
Percent of farms reporting:

52.9
15.6
5.1
23.3
23.3

70.2
14.7
7.4

7.4
5.5

60.8
16.8
4.8
14.4
10.4

48.9
22.3
5.0
22.3
18.7

51.2

9.4

4.4

30.6

28.8

35.6
11.5
8.0
42.0
50.0

72.4

22.4

Income of operator and members of family greater than value of all farm products sold. .

Subregion 18:
Percent of farms reporting:

43.8
21.6
6,8
27.3
29.6

62.2
13.8
3.2
20.9
13.5

53.0

33.7

7.2

4.8

14.5

34.8
19.6
6.5
39.1
42.4

34.3
17.6
11.8
37.3
44.1

30.1
16.9
7.2
43.4
41.0

65.9

34.1

Income of operator and members of family greater than value of all farm products sold . .

Subregion 26:
Percent of farms reporting:

45.8
24, 4

18.5
27.0

65.5
26.2

52.0
20. U
8.9
12.8
19.1

38.7
28.2
6.5
18.5
27.6

44.1
18.0
7.8
25.6
34.5

38.3
27.2
3.7

27.2
37.0

63.6

27. :'.

8.3

25.5

Income of operator and members of family greater than value of all farm products sold- .

Subregion 33:
Percent of farms reporting:

59.0
14.4
6.4
19.7
29.5

77.1

8.9

2.8

11.2

16.8

63.2

16.1

4.6

15.6

21.2

52.0
15.2
10.0
22.4
29.5

53.4
15.0
7.8
23.8
37.3

54.5
11.5
6.1
27.3
46.1

82.0

15.1

Income of operator and members of family greater than value of all farm products sold- .

Subregion 42:
Percent of farms reporting:

52.7
12.9
7.1
27.5
37.0

60.8
11.1
10.0
18.1
23.7

57.4
14.6
6.0
22.0
24.8

51.9
14.1
8.2
26.3
37.0

46.9
11.0
6.0
35.8
45.3

46.2
8.0
8.5
37.2
59.3

76.9

25.0

Income of operator and members of family greater than value of all farm products sold. .

Subregion 82:

Percent of farms reporting:

54.7
1&2
8.9
17.5
27.3

70.3
4.8
10.0
12.4
12.4

50.7
25.2
6.8
17.3
23.9

54.0
18.6
9.9
16.1
27.9

53.0
15.7
10.4
20.9
27.0

47.5
13.5
12.1
26.9
57.9

78.6

17.9

Income of operator and members of family greater than value of all farm products sold. .

Subregion 115:
Percent of farms reporting:

64.2

5.8

5.2

24.6

28.4

88.4
5.7
2.5
3.4

5.7

68.6
7.1
3.4
20.9
22.5

62.1

3.9

6.6

27.4

28.6

46.1

3.3

8.9

41.7

47.2

48.8

7.7

6.2

35.8

50.5

81.5

18.5

Income of operator and members of family greater than value of all farm products sold- _

Subregion 116:

Percent of farms reporting:

69.4
9.5
2.9
17.7
19.7

82.3
6.0

1.5
8.7
7.2

78.3
9.3
2.3

10.8
11.6

58.9

9.2

4.1

26.2

24.5

54.2
14.5
6.0
26.5
39.8

58.7

9.5

1.6

28.6

33.3

85.7

14.3

Income of operator and members of family greater than value of all farm products sold.-

Subregion 117:
Percent of farms reporting:

64.4

7.6

4.6

23.2

26.4

74.7
10.4

1.4
13.5

5.6

76.1
7.0
4.1
12.8
10.5

62.8

8.0

4.4

24.1

27.0

43.2
8.0
9.0

39.8
54.8

47.9

2.8

5.6

43.7

59.2

88.5

11.5

100 to 199 davs of off-farm work

Income of operator and members of family greater than value of all farm products sold . .

Subregion 119:
Percent of farms reporting:

56.7
16.0
7.1
20.2
26.6

72.9
16.2
5.4
5.4
10.8

62.3
22.3
3.8
11.5
14.6

54.1
15.1
7.5
23.3
23.3

51.3
13.5
10.3
24.9
35.7

42.6
14.9
9.2
33.3
47.5

85.5

14.5

100 to 199 days of off-farm work

Income of operator and members of family greater than value of all farm products sold. .

POULTRY PRODUCERS AND POULTRY PRODUCTION

31

Table 34. — Selected Facilities and Equipment for Poultry Farms, by Economic Class of Farm, for the United States

and for Selected Poultry Subregions: 1954

SubregioD and Item

Economic class of farm

Subregion and item

Economic class of farm

Total

0.9
0.5
0.7

75.0

47.4
53.6
65.8
97.6
48.3
83.9
39.7

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

Total

1.0

0.7
0.7

80.0
52.1
50.6
85.0
98.9
67.1
93.5
41.7

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

United States:
Average number per farm:

1.5
1.2
1.3

89.3
76.1
70.6
82.6
98.9
65.6
96.3
60.1

1.0
0.7
0.9

80.9
63.8
61.3
72.5
99 3
57.5
93.8
47.5

0.9
0.6

0.6

75.7
54.4
57.1
64.4
98.3
51.8
91.2
40.8

0.9
0.5
0.7

74.4
46.0

55.8
63.3
97.8
46.8
85.4
38.7

0.9
0.4
0.6

75.0
35.9
81.6

63.7
97.5
44.8
79.8
35.2

0.7
0.2
0.4

61.8
23.1
33.6
56.8
94,3
32.1
62.6
26.7

0.8
0.3
0.4

75.7
29.2
38.1
88.9
100.11
40.3
93.4
29.2

Subregion 15:
Average number per farm:
Automobiles

1.5
1.2
1.2

94.3
70.5
65.4
95.3
99.8
74.0
98.3
61.3

1.0

0.7
0.8

83.7
55.5
52.0
92.1
99.6
73.0
97.7
42.6

0.9

0 5
II 6

76.9
48.8
48.4
85.1
98.6
66.2
94.3
29.2

0.9
0.5
0.6

75.7

43.8
45.0
78.7
97. li
61.5
89.9
37.9

0.7
0.4
0.5

65.0
39.2
41,7
65,8
10(1 II

58 :i
88.3
44.2

0 6

0.2

Percent of farms reporting:

Percent of farms reporting:

51 7

25 3

Subregion 16:
Average number per farm:

Subregion 2:
Average number per farm:

1.0
0.8
0.7

81.3

62.7
51.2
88.4
99.2
65.4
96.9
41.0

1.4
1.3
1.0

88.3
79.2
60.9
96.1

100 0
75.3

100.0
55.5

0.9
0.9
0.8

86.2
72.4
62.1
87.1
100. 0
69. 0
98.3
43.1

1.0
0.7

0.7

84.0
61.7
48.9
90.4
98.9
70.2
97.9
36.2

0.8
0.7
0.5

77.1
59.0
.Mi i;
88.0
97.6
63.9
96.4
43.4

0.8
0.7
0.4

70.1
56.2
34 3
79.1
98.5
59.7
92.5
32.8

1.1
0.4
1.1

84.3

38.4
71.2
66.2
95.6
44.4
88.4
56.9

2.1
1.1
2.1

94.5
68.7
92 0
92.6
98.2
44.9
100, 0
73.9

1.7
1.3

1.6

91.4
81.4
78.5
88.3
95.7
47.0
89.7
67.9

1.3
0.7
1.8

92.8
57.6
90.4
77 6
99.2
47.2
99.2
68.8

1.1
0.4
1.2

85.6
41.7
78.4
64.7
92. 1
44 (1
95.0
54.7

1.0

0.4
1.0

80.0
36.2
71.9
58.1
95.6
45.6
85.6
57.5

1.0
0.3
0.8

86.8
27.6
62.6
62.6
97.1
47.1
85.6
55.7

0 8

0 2

0.5
68 4

Percent of farms reporting:

Percent of farms reporting:
Automobiles

38 8

5H 2

33 7

68.4

36 7

Subregion 18:
Average number per farm:

Subregion 3:
Average number per farm:

1.0
0.6
0.5

79.9
60.5
36.6
89.4
98.6
80.1
93.8
41.6

1.6

1.5
1.4

91.3

84.8
65.4
95.7
100.0
91.3
93.5
63.2

1.0
1.0

0.6

84.3

75.5
48.0
95.1
100.0
83.3
98.0
53.9

0.9
0.6
0.4

81.8

48.5
28.3
90.9
100.0
82.8
97.0
40.4

0.9
0.4

0.4

73.1

36.6
28.0
92.5
98.9
78.5
89.2
35.5

1.2

0.4

0.4

82.4
34.3
34.3
81.0
92.7
75.1
89.2
31.7

0.7

0.2
0.3

63 8

23,4
21.3
76.6
100.0
68. 1
95.7
25.5

1.1

0.8

1.0

81.1
47.5
64.7
71.5
96.4
38.2
69. C
37.3

1.1

0.7
1.4

88.0
62.6
86.7
78.3
98.8
37.3
83.1
48.2

U.9
0.6

0.9

78.3
51.1
66.3
73.9
93.5
35.9
69.6
29.3

1.0
0.4

0.8

82.3
40.2
58.8
08.6
99.0
37.3
61.8
36.3

0.9
0.2
(1 5

77.1
24.1

47.0
66.3
96.4
39.8
51.8
21.7

Motortrucks.- -

Tractors

Percent of farms reporting:
Automobiles _.

0 2

0 5

Percent of farms reporting:

17 1

92 7

63 4

14 6

Subregion 26 :
Average number per farm:

Subregion 4:
Average number per farm :
Automobiles

1.1
0.7
0.6

85.8
67.9
46.4
94.7
99.3
73.3
96.7
46.7

1.1
0.7
0.8

82.6
60.4
62.6
95.0
99.9
82.8
98.1
47.5

1.8

1.2
1.0

97.8
78.3
63.6
98.0
10O.O
78.3
99.0
63.6

1.1
0.9
0.6

88.5
68.8
44.7
96.2
100.0
75.8
98.1
47.2

1.1
0.6

0.6

86.4
55.7
44.3
95.5
100.0
75.0
98.9
50.0

0.9
0.6
0.6

81.8
47.6
47.5
96.0
100.0
68.7
99.0
36.4

1.0
0.5
0.5

79.4
44.1

41.2
88.2
98.0
74.5
89.2
39.2

0.7
0.2
0.2

65.6
21.9

18.8
90.6
93.8
50.0
93.8
37. 5

1.(1
0.5
0.7

74.5
40.0
45.5
85.5
100.0
70.9
87.3
43.6

0.7
0.6
0.7

62.5
51.5
47.6
34.1
95.8
23.5
61.2
23.2

0.5
0.6
0.3

46.2
55.5
31.1
15.9
97.1
33.3
74.9
18.0

1.3
1.4

1.5

89.0
82.8
80.7
47.6
100.0
51.7
99.3
50.3

0.8
0.6

0.8

75.0
59.2
50.0
36.0
98.7
23.7
74.2
35.2

0.7
0.5
0.8

65.6
48.4
57.1
29.0
92.7
18.2
58.9
19.7

0.5
0.6
0.5

48.8
56.3
41.0
32.5
96.4
23.4
52.8
16.9

0.6
0.4
0.4

60. 5

38. :;

34. li
13.3
96.3
23. 5
48.1
18.5

0.4

II 4

0 4

Percent of farms reporting:

Percent of farms reporting:

Motortrucks

36 4

Telephones

Electricity

Telephones

Electricity

42.4
93. 9

Home freezers

Subregion 33:

Average number per farm:

Subregion 5:
Average number per farm:

1.5
1.3
0.9

91.6
83.4
58.5
97.7
98.8
89.5
98.8
64.3

1.1
0.8

0.7

85.5
66.4
49.1
96.7
100.0
86.0
97.7
49.5

1.1
0.7
0.7

82.6
62.0
49.4
96.4

100.0
81.3

100.0
49.4

1.1
0.5

0.7

83.5
48.2
54.7
95.0
100.0
84.2
99.3
46.0

1,0

0.6

0.9

70.2
52.4
63.1
91.7

100.0
76.2

100.0
36.9

1.0
1.1
0.1

72.1
77.7
57.5
32.4
97.2
60.3
94.4
51.4

0.7
0.8
0.4

61.0
69.6
37.3
23.0
MS X
40.4
82.5
21.7

0.5
0.6
0.3

46.2
56.2
32.4
14.7
96.7
37.7
75.7
15.8

0.5
0.5

0.3

44.2
49.1
26.8
14. 1
97.1
31.0
75.8
16.5

0.4
0.5
0.3

41.2

47.9
24 2
12' 1
95.8
23.0
06. 7
13.9

Motortrucks

0 5

Tractors .

Percent of farms reporting:
Automobiles _

Percent of farms reporting:

22 1

Motortrucks

Tractors .

10.5

97.7

Television sets

23 3

Piped running water _.

Subregion 42:

Average number per farm:

Subregion 14:
Average number per farm:
Automobiles

1.0
0.7
0.7

80.5
56.4
51.1
90.2
99.2
85.7
90.2
33.8

13
1.4
1.1

91.7
91.7
75.0
75.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
25.0

1.0
0.7
0.7

81.4

58.1
48.8
97.7
100.0
81.4
95.3
30.2

0.9
0.6
0.7

80.0
54.3
51.4
88.6
100.0
91.4
88.6
34.3

1.1

0.5
0.7

94.7
42.1
52.6
89.5
94.7
78.9
89.6
26.3

0.7
0.6
0.8

73.3
53.3
46.7
100.0
100.0
86.7
93.3
166.7

0.4
0.6
0.3

44.4
44.4
33.3
66.7
100.0
77.8
55.6
22.2

0.7
0.6

0.4

64.2
51.4
38.2
38.4
99.2
58.4
90.1
23.6

1.1
0.9
0.9

79.1
59.5
64.9
51.9
100.0
78.6
96.7
39.7

0.8
0.7
0.6

67.0
61.6
47.8
41.1
99.4
62.5
92.9
24.6

0.7
0.6
0.4

62.1

53.5
38.8
34.6
99.8
58.9
92.7
23.5

0.7
0.5
0.3

61.0
45.0
2S. 3
34.9
98.7
55.7
86.5
19.5

0.7

0,4
0.3

63.8
41.2
27. li
42. 7
98. 0
53.8
85.9
22.1

0 6

Motortrucks

0.4

Tractors

0 3

Percent of farms reporting:
Automobiles

Percent of farms reporting:

59.6

Motortrucks

34.6

Tractors

26. 9

Telephones

Electricity ...

98.1

Television sets

28. 8

Piped running water

76. 9

21.2

32

FARMERS AND FARM PRODUCTION

Table 34. — Selected Facilities and Equipment for Poultry Farms, by Economic Class of Farm, for the United States

and for Selected Poultry Subregions: 1954 — Continued

Subregion and item

Economic class of farm

Subregion and item

Economic class of farm

Total

1

II

III

IV

V

VI

Total

I

90.9
76.5
70.8
88.0
99.2
66.0
97.0
57.7

II

III

IV

V

VI

Subregion82:
Average number per farm:

0.7
0.6
0.6

63.3

55.0
50.3
53.2
98.2
23.2
82.3
27.5

1.2
0.9
0.9

73.7
66.5
71.3
72.7
95.2
44.5
88.0
56.5

0.8
0.7
0.6

70.8
62.8
58. S
61.2
100.0
31.9
93.9
25.4

0.7
0.6
0.6

64.0
57.8
55.3
51.6
98.1
19.9
84.5
29.8

0.6
0.5
0.5

57.4
44.3
43.5
40.0
96.5
13.0
72.2
20.0

0.6
0.4
0.3

61.3
42.8
25.9
57.6
98.3
17.2
76.1
27.3

0.3
0.5
0.3

32.1
50.0
25.0
35.7
100. 0
17.9
64.3
14.3

Subregion 116— Continued
Percent of farms reporting:
Automobiles.

88.0
56.3
54.5
80.6
99.6
51.9
99.1
46.6

90.7
61.3
62.1
89.9

100.0
53.6

100.0
53.6

86.9
55.8
53.4
76.1

100.0
53.4

100.0
50.1

84.3
42.2
41.0
69.9

100.0
38.6

100.0
27.7

88.9
31.7
33.3
69.8
98.4
41.3
100.0
33.3

71.4

Motortrucks -.. -

28.6

28.6

76.2

Percent of farms reporting:

100.0

28.6

Motortrucks..

95.2

Home freezers

28.6

Subregion 117:
Average number per farm:

1.2
0.8
0.6

87.7
63.7
45.3
85.4
100.0
60.4
98.5
45.5

1.7
1.5
0.9

95.3
88.7
60.3
92.1

100. 0
64.1

100.0
55.8

1.3
0.9
0.6

92.4
70.2
49.1
94.2
100.0
65.3
99.4
48.7

1.1
0.7
0.5

87.6
60.6
45.3
83.9
100.0
64.2
98.5
43.1

1.0
0.6
0.4

81.9
53.2
36.3
76.1
100.0
51.0
95.0
41.2

1.0
0.5
0.4

81.7
43.7
35.2
71.8
100.0
60.6
98.6
47.9

Television sets.

Piped running water

0.9

Motortrucks

0.5

0 4

Subregion 115:
Average number per farm:

1.2
0.5
0.3

91.3
38.2
26.5
82.2
99.0
81.4
98.6
44.4

1.7
1.0
0.6

93.6
64.1
41.1
85.7
99.7
82.8
99.9
60.0

1.2
0.5
0.3

92.3
40.6
25.5
87.4
100.0
83.7
99.7
46.8

1.2
0.3
0.2

92.7
28.3
22.1
81.0
98.8
81.4
98.5
35.5

1.2
0.4
0.2

88.3
32.2
20.0
79.4
96.7
80.0
96.7
42.8

1.1
0.3
0.3

89.9
31.9
28.8
76.8
100.0
77.4
97.7
40.4

0.9
0.2
0.3

77.8
22.2
25.9
55.6
96.3
74.1
96.3
37.0

Percent of farms reporting:

69.5

46.6

31.3

Telepbones

84.7

100.0

31.3

Percent of farms reporting:

100.0

Home freezers

12.2

Subregion 119:
Average number per farm:
Automobiles - -

1.0
0.7
1.0

80.3
56.6
71.9
75.6
99.2
43.6
98.0
41.7

1.4
1.3

1.8

94.6
98.2
94.6
92.8

100.0
63.9

100.0
62.1

1.1
0.8
1.3

88.5
66.9
80.8
86.9
100.0
49.2
98.5
60.0

0.9
0.8
1.1

81.1
64.2
76.1
79.9
100.0
49.1
98.7
39.6

1.0
0.6
0.9

79.5
51.4
65.9
71.4
100.0
40.5
98.9
36.2

0.9
0.4
0.8

75.2
39.0
66.2
68.1
97.2
34.8
95.7
38.3

0.7

Motortrucks -

0.4

0.6

Percent of farms reporting:

1.3
0.7
0.8

1.8
1.2
1.3

1.2
0.7
0.8

1.1
0.6
0.6

1.0
0.4
0.5

1.0
0.3

0.4

1.0
0.3
0.3

62.9

33.9

54.8

Subregion 118:
Average number per farm:

54.8

96.8

Television sets ..-

29.0

Piped running water ..-

95.2

35.5

Measures of efficiency levels of the poultry business. Because
of the conditions affecting poultry income in 1954 and the nature
of the poultry business, available economic measures are of limited
usefulness in gauging levels of efficiency and income on poultry
farms in various economic classes. In general, these measures
indicate more efficient use of capital and labor on larger farms and
higher degree of specialization and poultry production. Gross sales

per farm averaged $9,600 for all poultry farms, and ranged from
$19,000 for Class I farms to less than $700 for Class VI farms.
However, the margin of sales over total cash expenditures is
probably smaller for poultry farms than for any other type of
farming. For all poultry farms in the United States, in 1954,
this margin of gross sales over the total of six specified cash ex-
penditures was $2,500.

POULTRY PRODUCERS AND POULTRY PRODUCTION

33

Table 35 — Selected Measures of Efficiency for Poultry Farms, by Economic Class of Farm, for Selected Poultry Subregions:

1954

Subregion and item

United States:

Gross sales per man-equivalent . .. - dollars.

Gross sales per $1,000 of capital invested... .. dollars.

Capital invested per $100 of gross sales dollars.

Capital invested per man-equivalent dollars.

Expenditure for feed per $100 gross sales dollars.

Percent of gross sales from poultry and poultry products percent

Subregion 2:

( irnss sales per man-equivalent. . dollars.

1 1 loss sales per $1,000 of capital invested dollars.

Capital invested per $100 of gross sales dollars.

Capita] i mested per man-equivaleni ..dollars.

Expenditure (or feed per $100 gross sales .dollars-
Percent of gross sales from poultry and poultry products. perceut.

Subregion 3 :

Gross sales per man-equivalent dollars.

Gross sales per $1,000 of capital invested. dollars

Capital invested per $100 of gross sales. dollars.

Capital invested per man-equivalent dollars.

Expenditure for feed per $100 gross sales . dollars.

Percent of gross sales from poultry and poultry products - percent.

Subregion 4:

Gross sales per man-equivalent ..dollars.

Gross sales per $1,000 of capital invested dollars.

Capital invested per $100 of gross sales dollars.

Capital invested per man-equivalent dollars.

Expenditure for feed per $100 gross sales ... dollars-
Percent of gross sales from poultry and poultry products percent.

Subregion 5 :

Gross sales per man-equivalent . dollars.

Gross sales per $1,000 of capital invested. _ dollars.

Capital invested per $100 of gross sales dollars-
Capital invested per man-equivalent.. dollars.

Expenditure for feed per $100 gross sales dollars.

Percent of gross sales from poultry and poultry products percent.

Subregion 14:

Gross sales per man-equivalent dollars.

Gross sales per $1,000 of capital invested dollars.

Capital invested per $100 of gross sales dollars-
Capital invested per man-equivalent dollars-
Expenditure for feed per $100 gross sales dollars.

Percent of gross sales from poultry and poultry products percent.

Subregion 15:

Gross sales per man-equivalent dollars.

Gross sales per $1,000 of capital invested dollars.

Capital invested per $100 of gross sales dollars-
Capital invested per man-equivalent dollars-
Expenditure for feed per $100 gross sales dollars-
Percent of gross sales from poultry and poultry products percent.

Subregion 16:
Gross sales per man-equivalent _ .dollars-
Gross sales per $1,000 of capital invested dollars-
Capital invested per $100 of gross sales dollars-
Capital invested per man-equivalent dollars-
Expenditure for feed per $100 gross sales dollars-
Percent of gross sales from poultry and poultry products percent.

Subregion 18:
Gross sales per man-equivalent dollars-
Gross sales per $1,000 of capital invested dollars-
Capital invested per $100 of gross sales dollars-
Capital invested per man-equivalent dollars-
Expenditure for feed per $100 gross sales. dollars.

Percent of gross sales from poultry and poultry products percent.

Subregion 26 :

Gross sales per man-equivalent dollars.

Gross sales per $1,000 of capital invested dollars

Capital invested per $100 of gross sales. ..dollars.

Capital invested per man-equivalent dollars.

Expenditure for feed per $100 gross sales... dollars.

Percent of gross sales from poultry and poultry products percent.

Subregion 33:

Gross sales per man-equivalent _._ ...dollars.

Gross sales per $1,000 of capital invested ..dollars.

Capital invested per $100 of gross sales .dollars-
Capita] invested per man-equivalent ...dollars-
Expenditure for feed per $100 gross sales .dollars-
Percent of gross sales from poultry and poultry products percent.

Economic class of farm

Total

8,305
646
133

15, 199
66

11.419
775
130

14,869
67

90.4

7, 395

545

183

13, 584

96.5

146

17, 299
70

8,933

388

257

22, 939

77

96.6

8,739

395

254

22, 252

71

96.7

12, 431
811
125

15, 467
73

93.5

8,177
486
207

0, 893
69

10, 766
688
141

16, 242
60

87.3

8,717
748
136

11,906
66

91.0

7,107
776
124

8,786
66

94.6

18, 229
1,100

91
16. 571

63

92.1

I'.l.O.Vl
1. 437

70
13, 200

02

97.9

10, 791

1,266

101

10, 857

68

97.1

20, 145
1,352

75
15,033

64

95.2

16, 268
717
140

22, 832
70

97.2

10, 406
405
248

25, 924
111

20, 301
1.577

64
13, 021

68

94.4

16, 496
949
105

17, 361

56

18, 288
1,175

85
15, 553

61

88.9

24, 167
1, 237

81
19, 503

68

94.5

22, 029
1,674

59
13, 005

68

97.6

10, 998
647
155

17,010
67

90.1

11,685
706
no

16,349
66

94.3

8, 977

706

138

12, 343

70

96.0

12, 172
649
157

19, 137
71

95.9

10, 025
425
233

23,301
79

97.2

11, 120
604
168

18, 670
58

97.4

IO.MI9
624
162

17, 487
75

92.8

10,684
556
183

19, 400
54

76.3

12, 202
699
148

17,686
56

84.6

13, 078
1,046

12, 789
69

92.5

11,795

1,179

84

9,926

67

95.6

6,512

422

237

15,411

69

87.6

7,051
415
213

17, 260
79

96.1

6,479

427

234

15, 268

78

95.1

6,188

350

280

17, 375

97

97.1

li, 104

283

354

21, 727

83

93.7

7,892

350

280

22, 231

61

95.4

7,065

432

228

15, 927

87

92.5

7,016

405

244

17, 479

66

79.5

7,645

524

190

14, 441

60

87.4

7,121

629

164

11,589

65

88.9

6.875
810
120

8,281
68

94.2

IV

4,051

270

:t7i

15, 047

71

83.8

4,447
276
357

10, 000
91

95.8

4,294
273
362

15, 464
101

97.6

4,264

240

418

17, 637

96

96.8

3,826

179

674

21, 726

100

95.4

4,981

162

608

30, 410

75

4,084

280

351

14, 264

87

90.1

4,648

279

353

10,411

69

77.3

4.941

338

299

14, 967

58

83.6

4,044
475
219

8,848
58

85.6

3,809
419
233

8,953
73

90.6

2, 439

160

626

15, 185

66

81.8

2,732
150

675

18, 418

97

91.5

2,441

120

869

20, 896

93

3,042

146

701

21, 429

2,632
103
948

25, 430
79

93.2

2, 495
86

1,159

28, 972

93

2, 547

159

653

16, 544

79

87.4

2,569

168

556

14, 064

76

84.0

2. 958

237

397

11,795

02

85.3

2,370

246

419

10, 105

53

81.0

2,344
298
332

7,837
62

89.3

VI

822

87

1, 154

9,534

66

78.5

791

62

1, 668

12,832

156

87.8

904

66

1,513

13, 239

154

94.2

942

64

1,494

14, 753

996

42

2,219

23, 353

106

94.0

1,194
32

3,391

38, 391

65

93.0

849

9

1,039

9,447

106

$92

85

1.087

100

79

79.3

782

81

1,342

9,700

76

76.4

823
108
890
7,887
46

63.7

799

138

750

6,769

79.0

34

FARMERS AND FARM PRODUCTION

Table 35. — Selected Measures of Efficiency for Poultry Farms, by Economic Class of Farm, for Selected Poultry Subregions:

1954 — Continued

Subregion and item

Subregion 42 :

Gross sales per man-equivalent dollars..

Gross sales per $1,000 of capital invested- dollars..

Capital invested per $100 of gross sales.. dollars..

Capital invested per man-equivalent. dollars..

Expenditure for feed per $100 gross sales dollars..

Percent of gross sales from poultry and poultry products percent..

Subregion 82 :

Gross sales per man-equivalent dollars..

Gross sales per $1,000 of capital invested..- _ dollars..

Capital invested per $100 of gross sales dollars..

Capital invested per man-equivalent dollars..

Expenditure for feed per $100 gross sales dollars..

Percent of gross sales from poultry and poultry products percent..

Subregion 115:
Gross sales per man-equivalent dollars-
Gross sales per $1,000 of capital invested dollars.

Capital invested per $100 of gross sales. dollars-
Capital invested per man-equivalent dollars.

Expenditure for feed per $100 gross sales dollars-
Percent of gross sales from poultry and poultry products percent.

Subregion 116:

Gross sales per man-equivalent - -_ dollars.

Gross sales per $1,000 of capital invested ._ .dollars-
Capital invested per $100 of gross sales - dollars.

Capital invested per man-equivalent _ dollars.

Expenditure for feed per $100 gross sales dollars-
Percent of gross sales from poultry and poultry products percent.

Subregion 117:
Gross sales per man-equivalent dollars-
Gross sales per $1,000 of capital invested dollars.

Capital invested per $100 of gross sales dollars-
Capital invested per man-equivalent dollars-
Expenditure for feed per $100 gross sales .._ dollars-
Percent of gross sales from poultry and poultry products. percent.

Subregion 119:

Gross sales per man-equivalent _ _ dollars.

Gross sales per $1,000 of capital invested ...dollars-
Capital invested per $100 of gross sales _ .-.dollars-

Capital invested per man-equivalent.. dollars.

Expenditure for feed per $100 gross sales dollars-
Percent of gross sales from poultry and poultry products _ percent-

Economic class of farm

Total

9,194

886

112

10,236

63

94.0

9,397

824

117

10, 989

73

90.7

11,704
529
188

21, 955
74

96.3

15,614
776
127

19,887
67

12, 159
515
196

23,722

7,710

618

159

17, 535

66

90.6

22,336
1,865

54
12, 136

63

95.7

21, 152
1,488

14. 144
73

2ii. ns;(
927
107

21, 549
66

95.8

26,834
1,113

90

24, 191
65

92.9

24.907
948
106

26, 455
71

97.4

17. 578
1,034

19, 386
55

91.7

11,554
1,098

89
10,316

61

94.3

11.893
944
105

12, 496
74

91.1

12, 170
531

22, 766

77

97.4

12,463
660
150

18,711
70

91.3

10,888
441
224

24, 348
81

94.0

10,090
569
177

10,700
68

92.4

7.206
742
138

9,915
63

92.9

7.235
704
139

7,044

304

323

22, 733

90

97.0

7,124

395

250

17, 759

69

88.5

6,694

312

314

21, 038

87

95.2

5, 936

373

266

17, 337

82

88.9

4,828
501
200

9,652
68

92.2

3.954
479
217

8,500
76

83.4

4,530

210

471

21,407

92

94.5

4,141

248

393

16, 197

86

91.3

4,483

196

524

23,358

103

94.0

3,842

243

409

16, 695

74

87.0

2,664

250

382

10, 185

72

2,248
222
434

9,890
68

83.5

2,365

109

905

21,802

94

94.3

2,656

176

572

15, 298

92.3

3,588

153

649

22, 897

90

94.8

2,290

165

624

15, 589

81

83.2

743

99

1.038

7,815

103

900

128

752

7,076

725

54

1,763

13, 430

149

752

84

1,295

9,332

97

91.4

814

45

2,068

17,416

154

93.6

1,055

66

1,615

13,460

95

91.2