A DISTINCTIVE WIN

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 67, 20 March 1937, Page 25

A DISTINCTIVE WIN

A special trophy known as the Breeders' Trophy is awarded annually at the Massey College egg-laying contests. Points are allotted for egg production and the "breeding ability" of the team. Seldom does this trophy go to the team laying the highest number of eggs, since there is a vast difference between the ideal layer and the ideal breeding bird, strange as this may seem to the novice • poultrykeeper. This year Mr. S. G. Batten, of Paraparaumu, has repeated his win of 1932 with a splendid team of large-bodied White Leghorns. Good egg size is an

important feature in a prospective breeding hen, and seldom does the small-bodied, high-speed layer lay a large egg. Many of our more experienced poultrymen consider that more attention should be given to this type of win than merely to a high score attainment, but it is most difficult to arrive at a workable method ot judging the entries for such an award. It is comparatively easy to carefully examine two or three promising teams, but to make a similar award for all of the entries would cause much heartburning. Another repeated win is that of Mr. F. Ecob, of Trentham, who again won the Golden Efjg ' Trophy; the only breeder to win this trophy twice since the inception of the contests. Mr. Ecob's two teams led their section for many months of the'contest, and the performance of his birds is truly remarkable. Yet another and very creditable repeated win goes to Mr. A. G. Mumby, of Heretaunga, who again produced the highest scorer for the whole contest, winning the Single Pen Cup for the third year in succession. With fifty entries this win is most creditable, and ranks Mr. Mumby as one of our leading utility breeders.