This study estimates egg production functions from experimental data The experimental feed variables were com and soybean meal. The experiment included the four protein levels of 12, 14, 16, and 18 percent and was initiated with 566 birds in 288 cages. Bird density per cage initially was included as a variable, but results were not significant and were dropped from the analysis.

Several algebraic forms were evaluated. For the overall data, a quadratic equation without an interaction term seemed most appropriate. It was used in estimating egg production, in both numbers and weights for the entire period of the experiment, as a function of com and soybean meal intake. This estimated egg production function then was used in deriving egg isoquants, marginal rates of substitution between feeds, and other quantities that relate to optimizing feed costs.