HISTORY OF LEGHORNS

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 253, 20 September 1930, Page 11

HISTORY OF LEGHORNS

ADDRESS BY MR T. BRUCE. Of considerable interest to poultry breeders was an address on the Leghorn strain delivered by Mr T. Bruce to a large attendance of members of the Manawatu Poultry Association in the Breeders’ Club, A. and P. Showgrounds, last evening. The president, Mr J. T. Brice, was in the chair. It had been quite evident for a number of years that something was lacking in Palmerston North as far as the poultry show was concerned, said the speaker. While it was true that the exhibition was the most successful in the North Island, it was far from being as large as the opportunities warranted. Most of the support had come from outside exhibitors, and . efforts were being made to remedy this state of affairs.

Leghorns derived their name, perhaps improperly, from the fact that the first importations to the New World came from the port of Leghorn in Italy. However, they were by no means a product of that province. The breed abounded all along the Mediterranean coast, and down even to Egypt. The first known were of the non-broody type, due to the fact that they originated in and were perfected round Egwot, where broody hens were dispensed with ages ago owing to the ease in incubating eggs. Their merit as layers was due in a large degree to the fact that the Romans were allowed to eat eggs during periods of meat fasting, and though the breed was found in all parts of Italy, they were never known under the name of Leghorns. The first authentic introduction of the breed to the New World was made, according to one specialist, about 1835, when a consignment of a few brown foiyls was received in 'New York. Little was heard of these, however, until some 20 years later, when a .fresh importation arrived, and were referred to as Red Leghorns. Four white hens, a cock and a , blue ben were another important importation to America, and when the whites were crossed with the blue hen there was evolved the Dominique or Cuckoo Leghorn, resembling somewhat the Barred Rock of to-day.- However, these birds had white legs and were larger. The leg colouring was described by the speaker as a point of considerable importance, as it was the colour that a bird of white feathers should naturally possess, the pig'ment responsible for the colour of both being the same factor. in 1860 a yellow-legged variety was imported, and became immediately popular, and sealed the fate of the white-legged Leghorns. It was believed that the yellow legs and hardiness were due to the blending of Asiatic blood —perhaps of the white Cochin. This crossing gave the beautiful appearance of the yellow legs' and beak.. . It was found to-day, as formerly, that when the breeder who practised line breeding began to get just where he would like to get regarding type and style he lost colour. f A further proof that Asiatic blood was introduced into the breed was brought out very clearly by the fact that feathers would appear on the shanks of both male and female after a few years of line breeding with a number of the best-known strains, the lecturer continued. Again, proof of adulteration was to be found in America, when intensive breeding for a few years produced the Rosecomb Leghorn. The percentage to-day of Single combs that would appear from breeding Rosecombs would be very small indeed. An ’ investigation made in 1880 demonstrated that Rosecombs were never heard of in Italy, though it was made clear that the Sicilian, which had a rose comb, was at one time or other introduced into the foundation blood, and then bred out to a great extent. It was remarkable that, despite the trading operations of England with the Continent, it was left to America to make the first exports to the Old Country.'sixty years ago. These differed from the present day Leghorns in that; they were larger in all respects, though the characteristics were ( very similar. Skilful, though perhaps unwise, breeding, had effected radical changes. This standard and fashion resulted in the introduction of foreign blood, notably the Malay, the Spanish, and the Minorca, for which the penalty was stiff being paid. This was the reason that white in the face was found in different degrees. When birds with strong features long since set, like the white face of the Spanish, were blended with birds of different strength, this strong characteristic was bound to recur.

There was some controversy in New Zealand regarding the imperfections in the breed, but these, said the speaker, were nothing more nor less than a throwback to the Spanish blood, either direct or through Minorcas in order to obtain large lobes. It had been contended with some truth that as birds aged the white would appear, though it was not through age, but a sure' proof of impurity of blood—perhaps many years back. This truth was again demonstrated by the fact that ’ birds with smaller and impure lobes were always the soundest in the face, and would retain that soundness even up to death. It was apparent that an introduction of outside blood did take place, and the type of bird was altogether altered, .a bird of a different class winning in the premier shows in England. There were many changes of type in the past twenty years. Most of these had been confined to the white variety. The brown type had remained more or less after the original standard. With regard to present day Leghorns, the utility bird, as was now known, was more like the original than the exhibition Leghorn of England, said Mr Bruce. The exhibition bird of America, though not so much like the pure Leghorn as the utility bird, had never varied like the English birds. It had been left to New Zealand to produce the first official standard for utility birds which had been approved all over the world, Mr Bruce con-' eluded.

A vote of thanks was accorded the speaker on the motion of Mr .T. H. Kissling. A judging competition was conducted during the evening. '