SHORTAGE OF FOWL FEED

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24907, 21 June 1946, Page 4

SHORTAGE OF FOWL FEED

POSITION IN WELLINGTON “ DESPERATE ”

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, June 20. “The position is desperate in the Wellington district, and unless there is immediate relief fowls will starve,” said the president of the Hutt Valley Poultry Breeders’ Association (Mr B. Matthews) last night, referring to the shortage of pollard. It was reported by one authority that more than 13,000 tons of pollard have been lost to poultry farmers through the introduction of the 80 per cent flour extraction. “Some pollard and bran arrived from the South Island a few days ago, but there was not sufficient for- a week's supply," said Mr Matthews. “Some breeders have no supplies at all. and others barely keep going. I have it on authority that there are large supplies of pollard and bran accumulating in Timaru. but we have been told there is no shipping available to transport it Supplies of oats have been arriving, but fowls cannot be fed on oats alone if egg, production is to be maintained.” Cuts in electric power were also adding to the worries of poultry breeders who relied bn incubators, particularly as this was the beginning of the hatching season, he said.