THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1575, 19 October 1912, Page 3

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

♦ (By Chantecler.)

The Size of Eggs, Thcro is a tendency for poultrymen to noglcct tho size of eggs for market. To maintain a good average market egg it is essential that greater caro be paid to tho selection of those eggs used for hatching. Deterioration in size is strongly noticeablo among tho heavy breeds. Most of tho heavy breeds in Sew Zealand are inbred, and new blood is necessary to correct tho results that follow. The New Zealand Utility Club has decided that during the ninth competition to start in April next tho minimum weight of an egg to be eligible for the test is to be one and three-quarter ounces. Hitherto it has been one and a half ounces, but so many hens are laying small eggs that tho club has wisely decided to correct the tendency. Years ago, when Denmark began its export trade in eggs to England, tho averago weight was one and a half ounces, and they could not capture the trade. Their experts promptly educated tho farmers to breed for larger eggs, and soon the Danish eggs w?re brought up to standard size, which is 2i ounces. At tho Roseworthy competition in South Australia, tho minimum is two ounces to compete for the test, and any birds laying eggs under that weight have no chance for the prizes. It is to lie hoped poultrymen will keep up their eggs to a good marketable standard. Small eggs betoken stock lacking vitality and egg-producing powers, and are a sure sign that the poultry business is on the down grade. How to Correct the Fault. Chief among the causes for the small egg trouble is that of breeding from immature stock. Too often breeders mate up pullets and cockerels in an immature condition. Small eggs are the result, and if hatched produce inferior stock. Even among more matured birds there is always a proportion that will lay small and badly-shaped eggs. These should b© discarded, and the birds rejected from tho breeding pen. The trap nest should bo brought into operation, and breeders selected more for the quality of eggs rather than for the quantity. Forcing the pullets to lay too early is another fault, and will result in many small eggs. In fact, it is generally experienced tliat a faird Hint lays too early will always produce small eggs, whilo those that are flowed to mature steadily will rarely lay unmarketable eggs. Scarcity of Table Poultry. A few years ago Mr. M'Nab, who was then in the Ministry, stated that it would be a profitable proposition if the Government farms gave eggs and stock away free to farmers. Whilo the writer does not agree with such generosity, he does think that, if it were.not for the Government farms, table poultry would bo scarcer than it is. It is a reflection on the poultry industry that such famine prices havo to be paid for table poultry. The craze for the white leghorn has resulted in impoverishing the table birds. Tho Government farms aro doing good work in encouraging farmers and others to go in for heavy breeds. Poultrymen should feel thankful if tho farms are doing this. While it is all very well to eater for eggs, the tablo poultry aspect should receive attention. The New Zealand Utility Club has decided to give a prize next year to the pen of heavy breeds laying the most egg's, provided it does not win any of the first three prizes. The Studholme tost also gives encouragement to the heavy breeds, and yet there is a great scarcity of table poultry. Wo must wake up and rectify this state of affairs. Good values aro always to be desired, but when tablo chickens and (lucks are being retailed at 30s. and 12s. per pair it is beyond a joke, and the next conference should make a point of encouraging the farmer to go in for more of tho heavy varieties of fowls.