DIFFICULT POSITION OF POULTRY FEED

Wanganui Chronicle, 20 March 1947, Page 6

DIFFICULT POSITION OF POULTRY FEED

STANDARDISED MASH MAY BE ALTERED (P.A.) Wellington, March 19. The difficulties facing the poultry industry in New Zealand in regard to feed supplies were discussed by the Assistant Director-General of Agriculture (Mr. R. B. Tennent) this morning, when he officially opened the conference of registered poultry keepers. Mr. Tennent reviewed the wheat position briefly and also suggested that the composition of the standardised mash might have to be altered. "The main difficulty to-day is the question of feed supplies,” said Mr. Tennent. “The world position in regard to wheat is still very serious and investigations are now going on to consider the best means of distributing the wheat supply.” New Zealand used approximately 12,000,000 bushels of wheat a year, including 4,000.000 bushels used by the poultry industry, said Mr. Tennent, That was an enormous quantity, and when it was necessary to go overseas for the major portion it was difficult for the Government to ensure adequate supplies. The Government deserved credit for having kept t the poultry industry supplied. The negotiations with Australia and the 5,000,000 or 6,000,000 bushels produced from the New Zealand crop should make the supply position not as bad as might be expected. In regard to bran and pollard, Mr. Tennent said the regulations had been introduced to make them go as far as possible. He paid a tribute to other primary producers for the way they had foregone their supplies of bran and pollard to/give the use of it toj.he poultry industry. He had particular praise for the pig industry, from which there had been no strong reaction at the diversion of supplies of bran, pollard, and meat, meal to poultry. “I can see no relaxation of the regulations covering standardised mash,” said Mr. Tennent. If distribution was to be ensured the standardised mash' would have to be continued and they might have to consider a revision oi its composition. If that was done, it would be only out of dire necessity.

Mr Tennent expressed gratification that the costs survey had resulted in an increase of 3d a dozen eggs in the North Island and of 5d a dozen in the South Island. It was fitting that the industry should receive increases and both the Government and he were pleased that it had received £hem.

A matter of great cohcern to the industry was the cost of egg production and egg marketing, he continued. A committee had been set up and had produced a voluminous report, which would be presented to the conference for consideration.