EXPORTATION OF EGGS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19134, 31 March 1924, Page 7

EXPORTATION OF EGGS.

ADVICE TO POULTRY FARMERS. ADDRESS BY mi F. C. BROWN. About 30 enthusiasts in the poultryraising industry assembled in Messrs Fraser and Co.’s rooms on Saturday afternoon to listen to an address by Mr F. -C. Brown (chief poultry expert), dealing chiefly with the question of the exportation of eggs. Mr Dalton occupied the chair. Amongst those present were two or three ladies. In the 'course of his remarks Mr Brown expressed a good deal rlf satisfaction with what had been accomplished so far, but he proceeded to indicate directions in which improvements could be effected, and impressed upon his audience the necessity of taking every care to see that the producers rendered all the assistance possible in the direction of ensuring that nothing but the very best eggs be sent to outside markets. At the outset Mr Brown expressed his pleasure at meeting the poultry producers and giving some information about the future exportation of eggs. He thought they had every reason to congratulate themselves on the success achieved last year. In view of the fact that it was the first real attempt to export eggs the returns were satisfactory. The venture was largVly in the nature of an experiment, as they did not know previously whether they could undertake exportation at a price that would be payable to the producer, but it had proved to be a success. They had learned many lessons from the shipments last year. The day was at hand now for 'getting beyond the experimental stage, and they must got down to sound business lines and adopt more economical methods in getting the figgs ready lor export. Reform was required in many different ways, and probably the best thing he could do would be to point out some of the i weaknesses that came under notice last year, while the eggs that were sent away were particularly good the grades had to go through too many to get what they required. In the great majority of cases the producers absolutely 7 failed to read the circular sent out by the department, or failed to take any notice of it. Generally speaking, the eggs that were sent to the graders were an absolute disgrace. When he said that he was not referring particularly to Dunedin. It was very unfortunate that the producers i did not take more notice of the leafletlsent out, as a study of it would have saved considerable expense in connection with' the shipment by the Rotorua. It took the department three weeks to get 500 cases for that shipment. If, by ■ lectures and demonstrations, the department could get in touch with the producers it could improve matters for next year. When the department arranged to carry out the grading and testing last year "it expected thht the producers would have the eggs “near enough,” and that it would have to take only a. few bad ones out, but the general experience was that it had to pick a few good ones out from a large number of bad sorts. He wanted the producers to think of the department in connection with the grad'ing of eggs and to help it in every sense of the word. There was a responsibility resting on them, and the must realise that responsibility. It was thought that there would be an improvement after the first shipment, but- the second and third shipments were as bad. If the producers had been warned about the first shipment there might have been some improvement in the others. The size of the eggs was one of the greatest drawbacks. It had been stated that nothing under 2oz was wanted, and in his opinion a 2oz egg was small enough. One difficulty was that in New Zealand eggs were sold by the count, while at Home they were sold by the long hundred (120). He was absolutely against sending Home any eggs., that weighed, less than 151 b or 161 b to the long hundred- U New Zealand ex porters lowered the grade they would naturally lower their name, and would have to' put un with lower prices accordingly. Last year the grading depots were just made clearing depots for eggs. They could imagine the expense involved in sending eggs that had to be rejected. If, out of five cases of eggs, there were only one or two suitable tor export the latter should be sent to the graders, and the rest could be sent anywhere else, but last year the average producer just sent them all in, and the department had to do a lot of work which the producers should have done. To the speaker’s mind the basis of the whole business was that the producer must improve his stock so as to get bettergrade eggs. There were too many Leghorns that were more like the type of bantams than the genuine type of Leghorns. They must lift their breeding birds up They would never get a large flock that would put up a phenomenal record and lay large eggs at the same time. In the future care must be taken to get over the question of small eggs. In making a selection for the incubator, they must pick out eggs of good shaps, with strong shells. Under the present system there was no inducement to get larger eggs or to put eggs into the cases iu a clean condition, and the careless man got as much for his supplies as the careful man. At present they had no standard egg, and that was what they wanted for export In Wellington an egg weighing looked upon as a first-grade egg. Some men were getting eggs weighing nearly 2ioz, but they were receiving no more than the others. A man supplying 2oz. eggs was giving away 21b of pulp to the long hundred. He ‘ (Mr Brown) would strongly recommend them to get away from the practice of selling eggs by the count. If the producers standardised their eggs by testing and grading they would create a demand for them throughout the dominion, and would average higher prices, but as long, as the good man received only the same as the careless man there would be no inducement for the former to improve his methods. For the last 13 years they had been waiting for the Boultrv Association’s conference to bring about these improvements, but he thought they might wait for another 13 years, and Then would not get them. His advice to those present was to set their own house in order, as the New Zealand 'Poultry Association could not do it. Eggs shout a not bo used for reproduction purposes unless they weighed 2oz. If they were going to have a sound export trade they must breed from mature hens, and not from pullets. He would like to seo the prizes at the egg-laying competitions given to the birds that laid the greatest weight of eggs rather than the greatest number. IE eggs were exported next year on I lie same terms as they were exported last year, ho would like to seo something done to touch the pocket of the careless man. If there was "not going to be any improvement and the department undertook the work in the following year, it might bo compelled to charge & grading fee lor all rejected eggs. If it did not do this tlio careful producer would lie carrying (lie weak man on his back. He wanted to impress on his hearers the importance ot improving the size of their eggs by getting a sire from a mother that laid good, marketable eggs- There was a further important point. Last year in practically all the centres perhaps one organisation took on the export, while the others stood aloof. Next year they would have to try to arrange that exported eggs would bring a better price than was ruling on the local market. If some of the eggs had been exported in the condition in which they reached the department last year he doubted if thev would have paid their fre’ght. Hundreds of splendid eggs as regards size bad to be rejected because they were dirty. The eggs should not bo washed, but there was no objection to nibbing the dirt off them with a damp rag. The. speaker was very 7 anxious that the careful man, who selected his eggs properly, should be rewarded for bis trouble. It should not bo necessary io take about three weeks to get a shipment of eggs away. He did not believe in putting the Government stamp on eggs which, had taken such a time to collect. If the department was going to be held responsible for the eggs at the other end, it wanted the assistance of the producers, and if it did not get it there s ypffeh N-a a danger of them paying for

—— blank space which they had previously booked. Last year they got a number of eggs that had been through the mcuban tor, and had dead germs iu them. A voice: Mot from the Ola go Egg Circle. Mr Brown said he. would not state where it happened, but in one case that was what they got. The eggs had been, taken out of the incubator at the second test. The speaker went on to state that infertile eggs would always keep better, than fertile eggs, and remarked that that! was an important point in view of tha fact that they reached Home some month* after they were laid. Another difficulty, was experienced with thin-shelled eggs,, and he wanted the producers to see thatthe shells were sound. A number of egga had to be rejected on account of having pale-yolks. The proper colour was a very deep orange, and in this respect eggs from a farm were generally much better than those from a poultry keeper, whose birds were kept in an enclosure. In the second and iTilrd shipments last year it was found , that many producers insisted on packing !, eggs in chaff. This -meant a lot of work f in the event of any being broken, and thought that any eggs packed in that way should be refused by an egg circle. Another difficulty encountered last year 1 was a black ring round eggs, caused by the wires' in the crates. This was the • cause of the rejection of thousands ofi ; eggs. .1- lot of trouble was caused by the ' fact that there were four main ports in 1 New Zealand. Mr Brown w 7 ont on to state that South Africa was going to * export eggs weighing 171 b to the long § ■ hundred, and also, special lots weighing ■' 181 bto the long hundred. If New Zea* ; landers were going to compete against these people they must breed birds that: ' • would lay larger eggs. Mr Brown expressed the opinion that ' much more could be done to improve , things in the local markets. He thought that the poor demand for eggs in many t places was due to the consumers’ object j I tion to paying for small eggs. Thera: was a great necessity to get a standard; egg, and the best way, to do tlrat was tor' sell by weight. If the good producer got 2d or 3d per dozen more for his eggs they would soon get him into the egg circle. He was really disappointed with the eggl circles, though yoa.rs ago he had defended! , them for all he was worth. Persons send- j f 'ing in stale or dirty eggs should be penalised, but he did not think many had been penalised for several years past;. j The principles under which the egg circles had been formd had not been, adhered to. The farmers to-day could produce eggs just as good as the circles could, and sometimes could beat the circles' prices. j Mr Gusscn then gave a display of grad* mg eggs. Quite a large percentage were rejected as unfit for export, chiefly on ac-> count of being dirty. Mr Cussen stated! that out of 20 dozen which had been for* 1 warded lor export 141 eggs were rejected ! while being graded, 12 while being tested, and three while being packed. Out o£ <T, another lot of 22 dozen 80 were rejected 1 while being graded, 10 while being tested, and eight while being packed. Every case had to be handled three times. He emphasised the loss of time that, was in- ; 1 voived in grading eggs in which ther»was such a large proportion of rejects. All this time had to be paid for by the' producer. Mr Brown mentioned that some pro- ; ■ • ducers graded so well that their egga- - ‘ werjt right up to the tester. The department’s officers had to be more or less critical. This year they might possibly arrange to keep' one staff for the whole of the shipments. Mr Harris proposed a hearty vote of . thanks to Mr Brown and Mr Cussen for the valuable information imparted ‘w* them. He said he was doubtful if poultrymen realised what had been done and what was still being done to improve the industry. They were looking for* ward to the day when all producers''would become members of an egg circle, or soma other organisation of the kind. They, must pay attention to what Mr Brown had told them, or their eggs would nob bring satisfactory prices at the other end, . He agreed with the suggestion that if j eggs were sold by weight a lot of trouble experienced in dealing with small eggs would be done away with. The condition of the industry could be improved' only by organisation. If the produccVS” united there was no reason why the in- u, dustry should not be payable and give satisfaction to the public. u The motion, which was supported by M . the chairman, was carried by acclamation. ■ ( / A vote of thanks to the chairman and •) one to Messrs Eraser and Co. for the use of their rooms and to their staff for assist- 1, ance rendered brought the proceediugs to V a close.