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both in the selection of a suitable type of bird and with advice as to satisfactory management for high production. Some two thousand eight hundred visits were made by the five Instructors during the year. " Stock.—The numerous requests made to the Department for assistance in culling and selection of breeding-stock throughout the Dominion clearly indicates the desire of poultrymen to maintain a high standard among their birds. It is satisfactory to be able to report that a good average standard of stock is evident in all centres. The danger still exists, however, of breeders sacrificing size of bird in their desire to obtain high production. This can be seen at the three egg-laying contests, where there are too many birds which fail to satisfy, and only just satisfy the minimum-weight regulations on arrival at these contests. Loss of size is often accompanied by loss of constitution, which in turn leads to an inability to stand up to the strain of heavy production and to susceptibility to disease. " Egg Supplies and Marketing.—Supplies of eggs for the year have been about normal, with the exception that there has been a marked shortage during the late summer and early autumn. This scarcity has been caused to a large extent by pullets coming into production slowly this season; in particular, this applies to late-hatched birds. The dry conditions prevailing during the rearing and growing season have undoubtedly affected the maturity of this year's pullets. " Keen interest has been taken by poultrymen in the Marketing of Eggs Regulations 1940, and there is a real desire in the industry to see these regulations in full operation. Until this has been accomplished egg marketing will continue to be unsatisfactory and a continual source of" anxiety to the producer. " Considerable trouble was experienced from so called ' bad eggs ' during January. Preliminary investigations by the Department indicated that the dry hot summer and a lack of green food were largely responsible for these poor-quality eggs. " Health of Stock. —While the health of poultry generally throughout the Dominion has been satisfactory, there is no room for complacency in the matter of poultry diseases. Reports received indicate that the dry summer has limited the outbreaks of Coccidiosis during this year, but that parasitical worms have called for an increase in the treatment of pullets. The most disturbing feature in connection with disease is the increased number of reports of fowl paralysis (Neurolymphomatosis), a disease that has caused very considerable trouble in Great Britain and the United States of America during recent years. This is a matter which will need watching closely, as there is evidence that this disease can be spread through breeding-stock, while up to the present no means has been found of detecting carriers among breeding stock so infected. " Mention must also be made of the increase in certain districts of birds infected with marble bone (Osteopetrosis). Although not causing any serious trouble, it is obvious that affected birds arc not being removed and destroyed immediately they are observed. As the disease has now been proved to be infectious, this course of action is highly desirable. " The maintenance of constitution, immediate culling of ailing birds, and clean conditions for poultry are the main essential items in the prevention of disease, and with disease it should always be a case of prevention and not cure. " Sale of Diseased Stock. —Once again the question of offering diseased poultry for sale at public auctions and farm sales has come to the fore. It is evident that additional efforts will have to be made to stop this highly-dangerous practice. Although Poultry Instructors take every available; opportunity for inspecting markets and have in many cases the good will of those operating these markets, cull birds suffering from Coccidiosis are still being offered for sale. It is intended that more drastic action shall be taken against those offering such birds for sale during the coming year. " Wallaceville Poultry-station. —A keen demand for hatching-eggs, day-old chicks, and growing stock has been experienced during the year. So great has been this demand that it has been deemed necessary to restrict to some extent sales during the coming season. There is an obvious danger that the stock of the farm may suffer if sales are allowed to exceed a reasonable limit. On the other hand, this keen demand for stock from the poultry-station is a clear illustration of the good services it is rendering the industry. " Chick-sexing. —As in previous years, chick-sexing examinations were conducted at Wallaceville Poultry-station in August and November, 1940. Seven candidates presented themselves for examination. Of these, three secured first-class certificates and one an endorsement of his second-class certificate. The remainder failed to secure the required percentage accuracy. " Chick-sexers holding these certificates have an excellent opportunity during this coming hatching season to establish themselves in this class of work, as it has been deemed inadvisable to allow Japanese sexers to operate in New Zealand during the coming season. " In conclusion, I wish to take this opportunity of expressing my sincere appreciation of the warm welcome accorded to me by all members of the Department since taking up my duties in New Zealand in January last." Wool. The report of Mr. J. P. E. Duncan, Wool Instructor, is submitted herewith " The wool-growing season for 1940-41 may be regarded from most aspects as a satisfactory one. On the whole, the season was particularly favourable, and in general the wool has been better grown and sounder than usual, with more shafty preparing types in evidence. At the time of writing no figures for the total production of wool in the Dominion are available, but it is likely that the clip will be a large one on account of heavy fleece weights, which will probably offset the slight decline in

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