EGG PRODUCTION COMPARISONS

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 54, 1 September 1934, Page 15

EGG PRODUCTION COMPARISONS

It is alu-dys interesting at this period of. thc.yeuT to.compare the .eggjirpduetion of the various breeds and teams. Tlie iil-st t\vc'ilty Weeks o"f the fcdiupctitiblis aru really thb most inipo,i'tant; and those breeders . who .establish,, a good lea^l during tills period Usually finish well. Many .'entries are (spoilt because of false .mpul.tsj si nee, in an endeavour to have the. birds laying right .from the first day or the fio'mjlctitlbii tlie owner sonds in pullets which are rather too advanced. Even when immature pullets are sentj they will sometimes take a rest of several weeks from laying after once getting under way, and this is not always the fault of the brecr/r or his stoijk. . .

There are four laying competitions in New Zealand: two of about 50() birds «t-Auckland and Christchurchj one at Massey College of about 200 birds; and one at Tarahald with about 100_ birds. Always there_ are some oiitstadiilg Individuals and sometimes an outstanding team, and whilst by far the majority of1 the pullets entered arc Whito Legiiorns; some very gdod scored are being established by. tljS.iess popular breeds. As a general rule the Black Orpingtons gain & lead iii the' -Winter months; usually to be lost later in the yearj .since ,the,.light breeds are by far the best summer layers. Size" t>f egg Is blowing a decided ,imprbvenient in the entries at all the contests each year, showing that breeders are fully aware of' -the; value of layers of large. feg'gsi Tie wiiihers at inbst of the English and jAmerican contests are awarded, on a points basis, ailbwing for both weight; and number1 of eggs.