POULTRY NOTES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2938, 25 November 1916, Page 15

POULTRY NOTES

(By Chanieclkr.)

Table Poultry. There was an excellent attendance at the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club's meeting on Tuesday evening, when the president gave an address on "Table Poultry." In his opening remarks, the speaker stated that the conditions of the table poultry market to-day were different to years ago.. The demand then was for a large-bodied bird. Value was judged more by size aiid. weight than by quality. This was the reason the heavy breeds such as Dorkings, Indian Game,' Sussex, etc., were considered the best table breeds. Now, lie said, we find the demand is a'small bird, but it must bo choice in quality. It afforded an excellent chance for the producers of light breeds to cater for tho table trade, as the lighter breeds could be produced to meet tlie requirements of the demand at a lesser cost than some of the heavy breeds. '. It also solved the cockerel trouble. Thousands of young. cockerels were beins lost each year owing to no interest being taken in rearing them. Many producers killed their male birds as soon as they could be distinguished. Others quitted them to buyers who did not understand feeding, with the result that thousands of ehiclcens died for want of proper care. These could be renrert and made a valuable asset to the food supply of the Dominion if proper provision were made to Taise them to maturity. Tho aim to-day should- be to produce the dual purpose fowl f° r ft pd table. A misconception existed "about the Leghorn being unsuitable for the table. With proper care and attention it could.be made a delicacy, and thourrli the cnrcass was not large it met the market requirements, if fed and well formed. The classification of table poultry was then dealt with and snecimens shown to illustrate the different classes which each bird belonged. There were three classes—boilers, roasters,,' grillej'S. Boilers, were represented: by male birds nine months and over, and hens twelve months and over. Roasters were cockerels up to eight.months..and pullets up to nine and twelve months, tin Hers were chickens up to two months old. In'marketing tho aim should be to send forward birds .before the soiirs be-, gan to harden. The-flesh was tfien tender and young,. and commanded high prices. The point to remember was not size but quality, not age but .youth. It was tho choice quality that commanded prices. The question of fattening- was then dealt with, and the various-foods-suit-able for conditioning were explained. Ih New Zealand almost all our cereals were usefui. Oats formed a good basis for fattening, and barley, , maize, peas, and pollard, and meat meal were advocated. Caponising was not -considered a paying business. Tho practice "kept the birds tender, and tho flesh, choice, but to prepare the young birds for market it required too lengthy a period for feeding, and tho extra- price did not warrant it. Crate feeding was.useful'.ill.bringing on storo birds. It was advised that male birds be penned off-while young. They would not fret, and would benefit mors from their feed. The prices obtained in Christchurch wore higher than many parts of tho world for live' birds. Even m England-to-day-, table poultry was not as costly as the Christchurch market. I lie demand was only temporary, and was due to tlie scarcity of stock, and the requirements for troops and hospital ships. Preparing birds for market was a profitable business for the far/ner, and it was to be hoped more attention would ho given fo the industry. Mr. C. J. Cussen,' poiiltrv instructor, also addressed-the meeting on'the selection of the brooders,-' and the .best class of birds to select, for tablo poultry. He emphasised the need-for constitution and vigour. Ho also drew attention to tlie .splendid tost made" Jsv the Government 111 purchasing birds, "fattening, and reselling them at a hiiiidsomc profit." ; Numerous questions were answered fit tho close of tlie addresses. The pou]try was donated by Mr. J. B. Merrelt, and sold tor the Eed Cross. Fund, and realised -CI 10?:. .The. purchasers then' redonated the poultry for the use. of'the patients in the Bottlelake Hospital. ECC-LAYINC COMPETITIONS; . The official results of the' thirtv-sccoiid week of the i\cw Zealand Utility Poultry Uub s twelfth cKg-laying competition for towls lor tlie wcel; ended Tuesday, November 21. are us follow:— " LIGHT BREEDS. Total Total for to' •n- ... ' „ T week. date. Terral Bros., B.L 28 843 Brackcnfield Farm, EJj ifi at W. Davey, IV.L. 35 339 .T. Tl. Merrett, W.L 27 85(1 B. G. Shearman, W.L 35 J37 Hcretaunsja Poultry Go., W.L. .11 747 at - ? al r «"-T 37 832 M. A. Currin. U L 28 855 Dalmuir Poultry Yards, 'W.L.... 25 808 Mrs. H. Graham, W.L 30 748 J. Wordsworth, W.L 29 -732 H. K. Itoas, W.L 29 867 I!. H. James, W.L 28 692 0. J. Norton,,W.L 30 -' 802 Alfred Eaton, "W.L 35 703 M. H. Walker, W.L 35 737 Green Bros. (No.. 2), W.L 27 854 H.-Leger,' W.'.L 35 799 J. Nancarrow, W.L 35 923 Calder Bros., W.L 26 923 E. Pounsford, W.L 31 838 A. W. Adorns, W.L 32 887 A. E. Phillips. W.L 26 865 I'. Kennedy, W.L. 29 720 V. J. Hill, W.L 30 830 B. P. L. Clayson. W.L 32 846 T, E. Conway, W.L 31 783 Heretaunga Poultry Co.-(No. 1), W.L 28 870 KanEiuru Eur Ranch,. W.L. ... 33 901 8. Dick, W.L. ... 35 832 G. Gee, W.L : .' 24 782 H. C. Yates,- W.L. ' 24 746 E. P. Aniyes, W.l 29 809 A. E. Wilson, W.L • 31 801 Jlrs. J. Mills, W.L 38 975 A. G. Brailey. W.L 31 .' 644 Green Bros. (Jfo.. 1). W.L.,... 36 803 Atkinson Bros.. .W.L. 30 855 A. A'.; JToare, W.t . 17 728 L. T. Wright, W.L . 30 830 To Anatr. Utility Stud, W.L. .... 32 850 T. M'llwrditll, W.L. 37 769 B. A. L-izarus, W.L 36 821 IT. W. Bower. W.L 35 766 IT. 8. Woodnorth, W.L. 36 696 Kokowhitu Poultry Co.. W.L. ... 29 709 fiaMer Bros.;' W.L. • : 33 897 .T. 11. Merrett (No. 1), W.L 32 8« Jack Green, W.L 34 ...928 Totals 1503 39,785 HEAVY BREED TEST. - Total Total for to week. date. T. Kennedy, W.W 22 537 Green Bros., W.W 22 656 W. Knight, W.P.H 30 1 755 A. S. Cooper, D.I.E. 20 744 Miss K. Willis, 8.0 26 789 C. J. Norton. 8.0. 31 787 T. E. Conway, 8.0. ; 26 892 J. Nancirrow, 8.0. 17 813 Miss J, James, 8.0 16 . 785 T. Dowthwaite. S.W 23 765 A. W. Adams, S.W., 21 652 Totals 254 8175 SINGLE PEN TEST. Total Total for to , week. date. A. S. Cooper. IU.B 5 144 A. K. Cooper. K.I.E. 1 166 B. H. .Tamns, W.L 2 370 T. L. Wriplit, W.L. 7 119 Hangiuru Egr Ttanch, W.L. 3 134 Green Bros., W.L. 4 . 162 Calder Bros.. W.L 7 174 W. Davey. W.L. . 5 164 .T, B. JWrctt, W.r, 6 97 A. E. Wilson, W.L - '4t Jlrs. J. Mills. W.T.., fi 175 Atkinson Bros.. W.L 4 145 B. P. L. Clayson. W.L.' (i 147 J. Wordsworth, W.L 7 104 Totals 63 1942 FOB DUCKS. The New Zealand Utility Poultry Club's seventh cpc-layinc test f"r ducks. Returns for the Ihii'ty-sccond week are <is follow:— Total Total for to woek. date. W. Knight, I.R 39 817 Herot.au 11 pa Poultry Co., I.lt. ... 27 949 H. W.. Bower, I.H 30 10S9 Totals 96 . ' 2855 Tho letters after each entry denote the nreed, as iinder:—B.L.. Brown Leghorn; W.L., WliUi> Lorrhorn; S.W.. Silver Wyandotte; Rhode Island Red; W.W., White Wyandotte; 8.0.. Black Oroirigton; W.P.R., White Plymouth Rock; 1.E., ludian'Runner.