Surplus Of Eggs Expected In Country During Next Year

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 80, 9 August 1950, Page 8

Surplus Of Eggs Expected In Country During Next Year

Provided food supplies remain adequate in quantity, an expansion of the poultry industry is to be expected with consequent greatly increased quantities of eggs, states the annual report of ■ the Department of Agriculture. There had been a marked change in the poultry industry during the past 12 months, states the report. For some four or five years before 1949 poultry flocks were decreased in size and few new flocks were established because of a marked shortage of poultry foods, more particularly wheat. These conditions reduced egg production and the demand for eggs exceeded the supply. During 1949 the food position eased considerably. Reasonable supplies of wheat and coarse grains became available and ample supplies of poultry mashes could be bought., This improved food position was reflected immediately during the breeding season in the spring of 1949. Additional breeding stock was retained and the output of dayold chicks increased. This resulted in greater numbers of pullets being retained at the end of 1949 and in consequence increased quantities of eggs had been marketed in the past autumn There are prospects of a surplus of eggs in spring, 1950, and the necessity for importing egg pulp from Australia has ceased.