LAY ING. COMPETITIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 102, 27 October 1934, Page 15

LAY ING. COMPETITIONS

NEED ■ FOR STANDARDISATION

.'.. following on.a remit front the annual conference, tho New Zealand. Poultry Association inafld''an. effort to. obtain Uniformity of our egg-laying competitions'. It has ■ also asked for information regarding past aud. possible records. Unfortunately, the work of i rganisatiou has taken precedence- to many minor matters, and'ir. is to be hoped that, once ; established; these requests will, not be overlooked. Many difficulties present themselves, eyen on casual thought, but steps could' be taken to gradually bring about reforms.

Tho National Poultry Council of England has had this matter in hand for many years, and most of the leading tests aro conducted along set rules. Even so, the following statement, coming from the editor of the "Poultiy Woi'lil," shows that the situation is still troublesome. "Tho general trend of laj'ing tests in recent years to vie with each other in tho matter of records prompts us to write that the time has como when a halt must bo called. As wo stated recently, tho entire outlook of the laying trials has changed since tho original test was promoted early in tho present century. Tho most urgent call at the moment is undoubtedly for a complete investigation into tho alarming increase in tho.l rate of mortality."

Theso two points are pertinent to us in New Zealand, where egg-laying contests have been held longer than in almost any other country. However, we have not had any lead from a. strictly officially-conducted competition, apart from those existing many years ago. Both the Papanui and the Mount Albert egg-laying competitions, whilst conducted along excellent lines, are governed by a committee of poultrymen, many of whom do not dare to set too strict regulations for fear of losing entries. For many years past it has been difficult to fill all tho pens available at these tests, yet those conducted at Harper Adams College in England and at Hawkesbury College in New South Wales always have a surplus of entries. Now wo liave a small competition at Massey Agricultural College, managed by the college authorities and conducted under inoro strict regulations; yet the entries have shown a considerable yearly increase, up to just under 200 birds competing at present. It has been suggested that tho poultrymen cooperate in the management of this contest, but no arrangement has yet been; made. Tho opportunity is there if the interest is sufficient to develop it.

Public interest in the weekly results is very keen, ana the bare fact of _a breeder competing arouses interest in Ms stock and stamps him ns a "breeder of repute. Even if his entries fail to, register a good score, he shows that he; is not afraid of open competition with' the best stock in the country, and it is well known that what is called luck plays an important part in scoring well. The breeder whose name appears year after year somewhere near the loading places is the man who secures respect. Freak wins count for^ little with those who realise the situation. UNIFORMITY. ■Uniformity is most desirable in the number of birds to a team, tho date of commencement, the manner of weighing and recording the weight of eggs, -the penalty for underweight egg-layers, and the publication of the final data. ' Evidene'e'of uniformity in type we have in •abundance, due solely to the present system whereby the poultry instructors of tho Department of Agriculture visit each laying competition and judge the birds to a set standard. This service is keenly appreciated, and shoiys how easy it would bo to establish uniformity'throughout every aspect of the competitions if only some recognised .authority would take charge, set a standard, and see that it._is kept. England, Canada, and America have adopted the points system;of scoring in place: of the old number of eggs laid, and ' whilst this necessitates . tho weighing of every egg laid on very accurate scales, it is undoubtedly the only fair method of scoring. . It. is rumoured that the leading contests in Australia will adopt this system ' shortly, and since New Zealand has always taken "a-load in such matters, we should not'lag'behind now.' ''< '■'• MORTALITY. Here is a point'which requires standardisation, for at present thero'is little evidence available regarding the actual replacements made and ;tho deaths during the year. Eules are made, but they appear rather elastic. To date Massey College is the only test publishing a table- of mortality during the contest, and it is remarkably low compared with contests elsewhere. In one American contest the mortality was as high as 30 per cent. Quoting further from'the reference mentioned above-:— To whnt can those deaths bo attributed? Without doubt the answer is found in the craze for egg records. AVhen the 220-egg bird first appeared breeders sought- tho pullet which would produce 230 eggs in the 48 weeks. From that figure it has gone on and on until tho humble hen has been transformed into something approaching a machine. Like the racing car, she is, literally Speaking, blo4-n to pieces in the craze for speed. Of what use are those recordbreakers? .In front of us wo have the breeding records of ten copper rung hens for tho first season after their return from the tests. Not one of them earned her corn. Their owner was compelled to breed from thorn for the reason that their records at the tests were followed by demands for the individually bred cockerels which they were expected to produce. Returned from tho tests in September, they had to be fully . moulted and brought back into breeding condition by early December. They wore thus given loss than three months' vest after aspiring to tlio sotting up of .records. Small wonder, . then, that their offspring were few and far between. The remedy is obvious. Standardise the- tests, by adopting rational feeding programmes in preference to those which aro forcing in character, pay. more attention to stamina and size, and, abovo all. treat the hen ns flesh and blood rather than as a machine. FEEDING. Here we have the feeding blamed for over-forcing the birda, but no mention is made of the- breeding practice of the competitors themselves, which surely is. more important. The writer, after listening-in to the great air race, suggests that we should have two sections for our egg-laying contests. An open catch-as-catch-can. for the highest records, regardless of death-rates, doubleyolked eggs, and ruined vitality, with a governing clause that all competing birds will be- executed after the conclusion of the contest; and then a sensible contest for those- who desire to have some birds tested with a view to finding our which aro their best bird? and oC using those birds for stud brooders rifl-er ihpy return from tho contest. T\u< (■notion would hare to lie conducted .•ilnng free-range conditions, allowing

laud for 'each bird. Such a contest would .indeed bo ideal, and it is not as impossible -as might be.imagined. It,is,up ; to our leaders 'to give this matter "their careful consideration lost an evil is .bred in/ our midst which will eventually.destroy instead of construct.