WORK WITH POULTRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23019, 22 April 1938, Page 16

WORK WITH POULTRY

BREEDING PREPARATIONS PROCESS OF WEEDING OUT BASIS OF A SOUND FLOCK BY RED COMB Early moulters, small eggers, birds poor in typo or constitution, or any showing signs of a general breakdown in health should by now have been weeded out and sold. If this has been done, the attendant can be reasonably aura that the flock of old birds from which the breeders will be selected are all sound specimens, and he can go to the work of final mating with a great deal more confidence.

At this stage it is as well to sound a word of warning, especially to those who mate purely on egg production. It is important to remember that every breed has its own definite type, and that unless the mating for breeding purposes is carried out with strict regard to the maintenance of that type the identity of tlie breed will very soon be lost.

The first aim in mating up a breeding pen should be the perpetuation of the breed itself. Following that it is oi course logical to concentrate upon improving tlio features it is desired to perpetuate. That is, in our case, egg production. Keep it firmly fixed in mind that no matter how good the foundation stock may be, all the good qualities they possess will bo soon lost if the subsequent matings are not made with skill and judgment. One sees type lost so often that it is not out of place to emphasise its importance. A farmer may go to a prominent and successful breeder to obtain new blood, or a breeding pen to work up from, and in a couple of years' time the progeny of what may have been excellent mating is almost unrecognisable as being representatives of the breed. It is of no use breeding Orpingtons along lines that will eventually convert them to nothing more than black fowls, resembling Black Leghorns in general conformation; nor is it sensible to mismate Leghorns till they reach the size and weight of a heavy breed fowl. Yet one sees in egg-laying contests, and in show entrants, plenty of evidence that in many cases egg production has been the only consideration in mating the parents. Naturally one expects an eventual breakdown of the particular strain, and this accounts in some degree for the inconsistent results obtained by some breeders in these contests. To one who is in the position to observe the progress of different breeding plants it becomes very patent that the successful years in competition have been attained only while the value of the foundation blood lias not been spoilt by interference and foolish cross mating. On the other hand the men who are consistent in these contests, even without actually winning, always enter birds that show evidence of careful breeding and a retention of type that keeps the entries truly representative of the breed. Presuming, however, that the farmer is taking care to retain the type of his birds, and has been culling since Christmas with a view to retaining only the best breeders, ho is in a very excellent position tt> carry out a successful breeding programme. The basis of sound breeding practice is • small matings, which mean a greater measure of control and observation. It is not, of course, practicable on a large poultry plant- to go to the extent of single sire matings to obtain sufficient breeding eggs to hatch and rear the stock replacement each year. But it should be made a rule that the matings that have to be made should be kept as small as possible.