POOR MASH SAID TO BE CAUSE OF POOR HEN-LAYING SEASON

Wanganui Chronicle, 12 April 1948, Page 4

POOR MASH SAID TO BE CAUSE OF POOR HEN-LAYING SEASON

(P.A) Wellington, April 9. The yield of eggs in proportion to flocks kept in the Hutt Valley have never been lower at this season of the year than now. This was stated by several of the largest poultry keepers in reply to inquiries. A story given by the manager of A- G. Mumby s flock at Heretaunga (Mr. Sinclair) was typical of their comment “Pullets which normally give a good yield now are just not laying,” he said. “It has been suggester the unusual season and shortage of green feed has caused the trouble, but our birds have neve.' had more green feed than they have been fed with this year. The trouble is the poor mash supplied now. “Birds won’t lay if they are not properly fed and the mash just hasn’t got it in it.” The quality of the mash has been taken up with the Department of Agriculture.. The reply had been that the Health "Department had stated that the people of New Zealand nad never had a better loaf than they were getting from the high extraction of flour today and the department refused to alter the extraction percentage to permit more body in mash. “They can have the’r high extraction flour line loaf —bakers say there never has been more bread wasted in homes than today—and they can have no egga, or they can lower the extraction rate and have eggs, but they can't have it both ways,” said Mr. Sinclair.