THE WHITE LEGHORN

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 128, 1 June 1935, Page 28

THE WHITE LEGHORN

IMPORTANCE OF BODY SIZE

No breed of fowls has equalled the performances of the White Leghorn, and there are many commercial poultrymen who consider that no other breed is worth keeping. Probably 80 per cent, of the utility laying flocks in the Dominion are of this breed, and in most other countries their popularity gives them pride Of place. .Yet the Black Orpington, or Australorp, as the utility strains are often termed, is introducing a new school of dualpurpose enthusiastis who recognise the good points of this breed. Under certain circumstances the Australorp can claim to be the equal of the Leghorn, and these points will be dealt with further on. Commercial flocks of White Leghorns existed forty years ago, and ever since clever breeders have been working on their strains improving average flock production. By nature an actiVe breed of the non-sitting class, the Leghorn lent itself readily to improvement, and within the space of a decade egg pro'duction was improved almost up to the 300 eggs per annum class. But what is more important, the percentage of cull birds was* always low, and in flock production this is a most important point. Almost any breed can boast of individuals with high egg records, whilst a few breeds have strains that '■' will give high flock averages, but taken all round no other breed is so well equipped to suit the novice poultryman who desires high egg production.