THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3804, 4 September 1936, Page 9

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

THE WORLD’S BEST BREEDS. The Minorca:—This was another very popular breed at one time. The Black especially was famous for its large eggs and good production. But in those days commercial poultry farming, as we know it to-day, was almost unheard of, and most breeders of poultry were exhibition breeders or fanciers. The Minorca was much liked in the show ring, and birds were specially selected for their large white ear-lobes, an outstanding feature. Egg production was largely considered, and so the breed was not included in the boom after the war in utility poultry keeping. Thus the Minorca remained in the hands of a comparatively few enthusiasts. The breed has five clubs to look after it in Great Britain. Shows are, as a rule, well supported and there are classes for both rose and single combs in the two varieties, Black and White, and, very occasionally, Blues. In addition, there are usually both utility and exhibition classes. Among the utility birds it would be hard to find a more vigourous and alert-locking type than the utility Minorca. It seems possible that, with a demand for more vigour and fresh blood, the Minorca may become a sight on utility poultry farms. There is a good body weight, white flesh, and a large egg to build from. That the breed can lay can be seen from laying trials records. Utility strains would have to be selected, and birds with medium sized combs, wattles and lobes. Some of the exhibition birds have too much to carry in the way of headgear to be of use in the commercial farm, and would hardly stand up to intensive conditions during the winter. The Black is probably the most popular. It has dark eyes, a dark horn-coloured beak and black or very dark slate legs and feet and brilliant green-black plumage. The flesh is white and the face, comb and wattles blood-red. The earlobes must be perfectly white and larger than in other breeds (except the Spanish), but not excessive. They must be smooth, flat and almond shaped and widest at the top in the exhibition bird. The Minorca is a light breed and a non-sitter, but is rather heavier than the Leghorn. The cocks should weigh 6-8 lbs, and the hens 5-6 lbs. The White is similar, but has a white beak and white legs, a red eye and

silver-white plumage, which must be free from a yellow or strawcoloured, tinge. As a contrast with the Leghorn, the Club Standards allow 40 per cent, marks for head points in the Minorca, and in the various Leghorn varieties the highest allowance is 27 per cent, and the lowest 15 per cent. Serious faults on the show bench are: White or blue in the face, wry or squirrel tail, extra toes, feathered legs, side sprigs on combs, and wrongly coloured legs or feathers.