EGG-LAYING.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20827, 10 April 1933, Page 14

EGG-LAYING.

A RECORD CLAIMED. A claim is made by the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club that a ■world's record has been established in the club's egg-laying competitions at Papanui by three Khaki Campbell ducks, owned by Mr F. Ashworth, of Clarence road, Riccarton. In 52 weeks three birds have laid 984 eggs, the individual scores being 313, 325, and 346. The previous best in the club competition was 929 eggs, laid by three Tndian Runner ducks, owned by Mr G. A. Heath, of Woolston. Mr S. F. Marshall, secretary of the club, stated on Saturday that as far as the members of the club knew the latest figure was a record for the breed. The scoring in the competitions this year has been unusually high. Three Indian Runner ducks, owned by Mr A. G. F. Ross, of Fendalton, also broke a club record, laying 962 eggs. One of his ducks recorded the highest individual tally of the competitions, laying 350 eggs in 365 days. In the White Leghorn section one of the birds owned by Mr J. Maitland, of Orari, laid 343 eggs in 365 days, only two short of the figure put up in the 1925-26 tests, when a White Leghorn, owned by Mr H. Williams of Spreydon, laid 345 eggs in 365 days. The latter figure is known to be a record for New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, and South America. In the absence of any figures to the contrary this has always been held by the club to be a record for the whole world. A club record and probably one for the whole country was also established in the Langshans section, where three hens, owned by Mr A. Dalziel, of Greymouth, laid 688 eggs in 51 weeks, the individual totals being 208, 258, and 222 eggs.