POULTRY NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 281, 26 October 1934, Page 10

POULTRY NOTES

(By “Brooder.”)

Increasing attention is being given to a new breed of fowl in Holland. In Dutch the name is quite an obstacle to English breeders, hence “North Holland Blue.” In the-production of this breed, 10 or 15 years ago, we have an instance of how our Dutch friends study the requirements of the British market. In 19141 table poultry sent to the British market totalled 4276 cwt; to-day the figure reaches to 49,729 cwt., or more than 10 times that of 10 years ago. The North Holland Blue is the result of crossings of Coucou-de-Malines with Orpingtons, Sussex, Barred Rocks, and Rhode Island Reds. It will be seen, therefore, that it is a mixture. The adult male is about BJlb, the hen averaging 51b to silb. Thus wo note that it is not an exceptionally heavy bird. But it has this characteristic —a broad breast of soft, white flesh. Probably, it is the young birds with which the bulk of the export trade is done. Fed well on a ration of barley, wheat, buckwheat, and rice meal, the birds are quickly brought to a plump condition. Twelve birds are packed in one box

and chilled, and shipments are despatched at regular intervals. There appears to bo a keen demand for them m England, and of which Dutch poultry-keepers axe taking advantage. Mention is made here of the above because it is the view that the table poultry trade could bo thoroughly organised in New Zealand. The ideal bird for the table is not yet forthcoming, critics, state. Yet we have our good, breeds, big birds, some carrying a lot of flesh very suitable in some cases for table use. It is the ideal bird, such as the Dutch have evolved, which some people hope to see make its appearance. Buyers do not want exceptionally big birds. It must bo remembered, as they do, that buying by weight means that in the birds offering at present considerable waste in bone is being purchased. Hence, the desire and growing demand for a smaller bird with moro edible ilesh. Australian says: “With regard to that fine dual purpose breed, the Light Sussex, not enough care is taken by breeders to keep to the right type. In all dual purpose breeds, one of the two qualities always predominates, and in the Sussex, which after all is primarily a table proposition, this quality must be preserved. One views with fear the tendency that now exists to make it a laying machine. The outstanding features of the Light Sussex, and those which have brought it so much into prominence, are its delicate white flesh and skin, and ite fine large carcase; so, when one sees loose feathered, short backed stilty birds often undersized, obviously the result of breeding for egg production, one feels, not without cause, that there is a danger of the true qualities of the breed going by the board.” Careful observers of the Light Sussex breed will admit that there is something in the foregoing. However, there are some who maintain that the small sized birds we sometimes see are not the result of bad mating, or because of any desire to produce layers only. Indeed, it is known that some of the largest birds have been proved the best layers. The general contention is that there are few keepers of this breed who really understand how to produce birds of this big splendid type. The haphazard methods of keeping these birds, closely penned from chicken age and for the rest of their days, is not one calculated to produce type. From incubator to maturity these birds should be kept growing with plenty of flesh producing food, such as is indicated in the paragraph re the North Holland Blue. The warning cited, therefore, is a timely one. If we are to keep the Sussex true to type we must not become too keen for eggs. To let it be a fair average producer of eggs and to concentrate more on keeping the bird true to its type and purpose would be a better policy. There is a growing interest in the new poultry organisation recently formed. Everywhere it is felt that there is a need for poultry-men to

face up to their difficulties and tackle them in a manner befitting an industry with so much at. stake. It is pleasing to note that the local organisation is adding to its numbers.

EGG-LAYING. MASSEY COLLEGE CONTEST. The following are the results of the thirtieth week of tho Massey College egg-laying contest: — SINGLE PENS. Section A.

TEAM RESULTS. Section C. S. D. Morris. W.L. 108 144 68 116 135 160 (30) 731 A. J. Davcy, W.L. 132 114 129 128 97 112 (30) 712 C. W. L. King, W.L. 98 132 117 87 94 137 (35) 665 Mrs Geo. Hillman, W.L. 142 116 130 110 30 116 (22) 644 J. Graham. W.L. 114 x 99x 108 98 IOOx 121 (29) 640 H. Poison, W.L. 119 62 lllx 109 116 121 (26) 638 Mrs D. A. Stewart, W.L, 104 70 125 x 86 128 x 120 x (25) 633 Emery Bros., W.L. 72d 126 143 73 85 128 (27) 627 J. T. Hazelwood W.L. 138 145 9x 116 x 109 107 x (26) 624 M. Stephenson, W.L. , . 77 57 135 91 110 128 (31) 598 P. B. Harrison, W.L. 137 73 102 85 116 82 (31) 595 H. A. Lucas, W.L. 106 90 52 135 47 103 (29 ) 531 A. Rtrawbridge, W.L. 83 105 104 19d 96 112 (27) 519 E. B. Wainscott, W.L. ' 96 51 54 75 88 140 (25) 504 E. D. Wilkinson. W.L. _ „„„ 84 93 69 88 89 71 (29) 494 W. N Laws, W.L. 87 87 72 66 62 103 (28) 477 J. Smith, gQ g 5 7Q ( 2 3) 410 F. Lang, 44* 46 54 26x (25) 320 Section D. Miss E T. Somer, R.I.R. 135 165 157 62 163 x 101 (27) 783 F. A. Dewhurst, R.d.K. 90 107 x 77 133 135 173 (32) 715 W A. Larsen, 8.0. 92 168 47 133 x 143 68d (25) 651 W. E. Jones. R.I.R. 96 118 35x 126 119 IOOx (27) 594 “x” Disqualified egg weight clause. “d” Bird dead.

J. A. Annan, W.L (6) 142 C. H. Barker, W.L 1 (4) 118 2 (51 100 W. H. Barker, W.L 1 (4) 89 2 (4) 95 3 (4) 122 Mrs R. R. Cannon, W.L. . (5) 167x Emery Bros., W.L (5) 123 E. M. Galvin, W.L 1 !U) 88d 2 (4) 115 3 (0) 58d H. Hutchinson, W.L (4) 133 C. W. L. King, W.L (3) 113 A G Mumby, W.L 1 (5) 142 2 (4) 122 3 (0| 18U 4 (b) lbl Ii. Moreland, W.L (3) 109 W. J. MeAloon, W.L (4) 87 A. J. Shailer, W.L (61 119 H. Williams, W.L 1 (5) 134x 2 (b) 112x Whenuapai I\F., W.L (5) 153 Mrs E Youngson, 13k. L. . 1 (4) 80 2 (5) 124 D. Kruse, Anc 1 (b) 101 2 (3) 95 F. Lang, Anc. 1 (6) 99 2 (5) 109 J. Smith, Anc. 1 (4) 135 2 (5) 149 H. Williams, W.L 3 (b) 130 A Strawbridgo, W.L (6) 139 A. R. Watson, Br. L. (5) 118 Section B. Miss E. T. Somer, R.I.R. . (3) 69 K. Mouldcy, R.I.R (b) 75 W. A. Larsen, B.O (3) 86 T Dowthwaite, W.W 3 (b) 127 W. A. Larsen, B.O 1 (6) 126x ! 2 (4) 144 Mrs Waddell, B.O (2) 131x T. Dowthwaitc, W.W 1 (1) 63 2 14) 129