Address to Poultry Fanciers

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6834, 15 April 1932, Page 10

Address to Poultry Fanciers

DEPARTMENT’S EXPERT ON TYPES TO AIM FOR. At the conclusion of the judging competition, run in conjunction with the Manawatu Poultry Association’s young bird show on AYednesday, Mr. F. C. Brown, chief poultry instructor from tho Department of Agriculture, gave a lecture to poultry fanciers, demonstrating by means of plates, the ideal type of bird to aim for and the characteristics of the various breeds. . At the outset, Mr. Brown extended his congratulations to the members of tho Poultry Association on their enthusiasm in having staged the show and on the line standard of the exhibits. He stated that it was tho purebred, poultry and particularly the laying type which was the foundation of tho industry and shows, such as the one staged by the Manawatu Association, were of inestimable value in that they brought fanciers out into open competition affording the opportunity of assimilating the latest ideas in regard to tho scicntiiie breeding of purebred stock. He added that tho first function of any particular breed was to lay eggs but equally important was tho need for a particular breed to reproduce the best of its kind. He again referred to the educational value of shows," stating that it was the duty of the older members of an association to [foster interest among tho younger fanciers for it was realised by those closely connected with the industry that the tendency was for the different breeds to deteriorate. Speaking of the judging competition, Mr. Brown explained that the object of the plates showing tho ideal types of the various breeds was not so much to show novices what the ideal birds looked like, but more that they might be abio to appreciate how far and in what tospccts the actual exhibits at the show departed from the ideal type. The different breeds had certain characteristics and for this reason it, was not advisable to cross tho breeds, added the speaker, and lie then went on to point out the characteristics to bo looked for in the various breeds, characteristics which could be easily traced where breeds had been crossed. Mr. Brown explained that there might bo several varieties of a particular breed, but that the birds should all conform to the ono type, also that the object of the lecture was to educate the uovice in tho characteristics of the different breeds. Ho contended that a breeder, though he might read many text books on the subject, would never really grasp an accurate idea of what to aim for unless he had the opportunity of seeing a plate setting out the ideal type of the particular breed lie was interested in. He also contended that all judging should bo carried out according to tho standard set by the plates. Mr. Brown then dealt with the conformation of the perfect egg-laying hen, stating that scicntiiie breeding over a very long period had produced a bird capable of laying over 200 eggs a year whereas tho bird from which the different breeds had been evolved, had been capable of laying very few eggs in the season. This capacity for laying so many eggs was undoubtedly due to artificial development and, added the speaker, this artiiicial development was very noticeable. He went on to say that there were two classes of strong birds. Ono converted its food into fat and ilesh and was the beef maker, but the other converted its food into eggs. The layer was distinguishable by the deep keel while the table bird had a short, shallow keel. Dealing with the principles to be followed in breeding purebred stock, Mr. Brown stressed the necessity for constitutional vigour which was indicated by bold, prominent eyes and a clean face. Another good indication in this respect was the tightness of feather for the best birds would be found to be tightly and thickly clothed. Concluding a very interesting address, Mr. Brown said he had yet to see the good laying bird with round bone and that it, would be found that the beso layers were the last birds to moult. After tho expert had answered a number of questions, Mr. J. T. Brice, president of the Manawatu Poultry Association, thanked him for his help in connection with tho show and for liis instructive address.