TELLING SEX OF CHICKS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 29, 4 February 1935, Page 10

TELLING SEX OF CHICKS

CLAIMS BY EXPERTS. About a year ago considerable interest was.created by the investigations in this country of Japanese experts who claimed to be able to distinguish the sex of day-old chickens af all breeds with something like 99 per cent, accuracy, says an English paper. Japanese sex-detectors had been working in Canada and the .United States for a year or two previously, but it was not until the World Poultry Congress in Rome in September, 1933, that people of this country became interested in the process. During the past breeding season several Japanese experts were working in this coun'try, and ’with their assistance a number of breeders were able to sell day-old pullets with a guaranteed accuracy of 95 to 97 per cent. The processs as demonstrated by thejapanese, appeared likely to revolutionise the day-old chick industry, in anticipation of which there has recently i been a keen demand for quick and capable sex-detectors. One of the largest day-old chick firms, Sterling Poultry Products, Limited, of Absol Park, Felstead, recently engaged an American woman expert. Mrs, Freda P. Woodruff, from Pennsylvania, and she, togetner wilh a Canadian, Air, R. M. Forsyth, from Vancouver, gave a demonstration last week. Mrs. AVoodruff was engaged • pecially to instruct, members of the staff' of Sterling Poultry Products, Limited, and seven pupils undergoing instruction showed considerable ability, with a high degree cef accuracy. Unlike the Japanese, Mrs. Woodruff does nnf ai.m at high-speed in «o-x-detection, hut her standard of accuracy has reached 100 per cen't.