THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2028, 14 August 1920, Page 3

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

THE EGG MARKET. {Edited by J. B. Merrett.l Now that the Grand National demand is over, we may look for a drop in the price of eggs. The priee this coming summer should be an advauce on last year. Even if the rate were 2/- a dozen for the summer, egg-pro-dueers would not be receiving any too much, compared with the cost of i'eeds, and the prices being obtained in other parts of the world. The production in New Zealand this year will fall short of requirements, and no doubt importations will have to be made to meet the demand. The cold weather will limit production locally, and it is not expected that the market will be lowered considerably during the month. All over the world eggs are in greater demand than ever before, and record prices are obtained. The Australian market is much firmer than in previous years. The shortage of feed has forced producers to protect the industry by combining for higher prices. American Methods. The writer has just returned from an interesting visit fft California, which is the world's greatest egg-pro-ducing country. There was much to learn, but the methods adopted in America would not work to any considerable extent in New Zealand. The Americans have little to teach us in the breeding and selection of stock, but in numbers they easily surpass us. Few producers around Petaluma have less than 3000 layers, 'while large holders keep from 20,000 to 00,000 birds. The handling and mixing of the foods are done by machinery, and it is in the labour-saving devices that the poultryman makes his profit. The birds are chiefly White Leghorns, but they lack stamina, constitution and egg-laying type, as evidenced in our New Zealand stock. The marketing of the product is conducted on an admirable system. One firm handles 8,000,000 dozen eggs annually. Many of the first-grade eggs are shipped to New York, and command a high price. Inquiries were

made for eggs to be sent from New Zealand, but the shortage of our supply precludes any shipment* being made for export purposes. Notes. It is pleasing to note that the birds in the dry-mash competition, conducted by the Woolston Tanneries, are doing well. The leading bird lias now a total of 98. At a recent meeting held at Woolston, Mr Fa/.aekerly was prcnent and gave an address on poultry-keeping, lie answered a large number of questions that proved of great value to the club. On Monday evening a number of poultrymeii.are giving a farewell social to Mr T. E. Conway, who is leaving for the North Island. Mr Conway is an experienced fancier, and has made some good records in the egg laying competitions. On Monday week the annual meeting of the Christchureh Poultry Society will be held. The society has had a good year, and much praise is duo to the energetic secretary, Mr G. Pearee. The "New Zealand Utility Poultry Standard" is now on sale, it is :iu excellent publication. The plates are remarkably good. The Department of Agriculture issued the work, assisted by leading fanciers throughout the Dominion. Special reservations ace being made for teams of birds to be sent from New Zealand, to Australia to the egg-living test at The Hague, but, owing to the distance, it is not expected many teams will go. The breeding season is uear at hand, and many poultrymen have their birds mated, and in many instances eggs have been set and satisfactory hatches produced.