STANDARD BREED WEIGHTS

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 6, 6 July 1935, Page 28

STANDARD BREED WEIGHTS

Few fanciers appreciate the important change in the revision of the Dominion poultry standards made last year. In the past judges have been allowed to make awards within a margin of one pound under the standard weight and one and a half pounds over the standard weight. Now all prizewinners must be within certain specified weights, all of which are within a range of one and a half pounds. At a recent show no less than half the entries in one popular class were actually under the minimum body weight, and although among them were some excellent birds, they had to be passed. The committee of the society concerned was most alarmed, and it does seem hard that some such birds should be passed altogether. None the less, the importance of good body weight, especially in breeding stock, should not be overlooked. It is always wise to be on the safe side and to have a little reserve' weight. Perhaps the worst class to suffer is the utility Black Orpingtons, as today there are many small birds which are true- to type and wonderful layers but which do not pull the standard weights. The explanation is easy to find in that all authorities agree that it is impossible to produce a strain of fowls which are both good layers and good table fowls. If the Orpington is asked to produce 300 eggs, in a year, then she cannot also produce a well-fleshed 'carcass suitable for table purposes. The weights set down for the more common breeds are as follows:—White Leghorns: Cocks,-6-7Jlb; hens, 5-6Ub; cockerels, s£-71b: pullets, 4i-6tt>. Black Minorcas and Khaki Campbell ducks come together with 7-84, 6-7J, 6-7 J. and 5-6..id. Utility Orpingtons, and Light Sussex are also equal, with 84-10, 7-84.,. 74-9 and 6-74. Rhode Island Reds are half a pound under the Orpington weights, and Wyandottes are classed with them in the same weight sections. There are many, utility Orpingtons falling well below the standards set, and breeders who wish to win m the shows must give 'due consideration to the changes made. Whether or not the classes arranged for Australorps will move popular remains to be seen, and it is significant that no illustrated plates were published for this variety. The fact that all judges are bound down in writing to judge under the new standards will make them more careful with their awards, and most certainly uniformity in judging will assist all breeders. At the same time it must be remembered that many novices compete in the shows, and the placing of too many restrictions., on the judges will reflect in lower entries. The time may yet arrive when novice;classes at noultry shows will prove more popular thouph it will be difficult for the j club officials to prevent genuine fanciers from competing there.