EGG-LAYING COMPETITION.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1091, 1 April 1911, Page 14

EGG-LAYING COMPETITION.

RANGIURU, OTAKI, WINS. (By TaJeErA'ph.—Special Correspondent.} Christchurch, March 31. Tlio sixth annual egg-laying competition was completed at i'apanui o-day. Tho test has been keenly vatched by poultrymen all through ho Dominion. During the week ho two leading pens were placed inder lock and key, and, when the iggs wero gathered for the last time •o-day, it was found that.tho Rangiuru )en had won the test by the narrow nargin of three eggs. Sail's pen inished second. Both pons have been •lie admiration of scores of visitors luring tlio last two days. A busy svening has been spent by the committee packing the birds competing in ho last test, and penning the birds to )egin tlio seventh test to-morrow. The otal laid was 64,105 by 324 birds, in ileven months, realising , £311 10s. irofit, or £12 10s. per bird after payng for food (£lO3 12s. 3d.)., Rangiuru von on the last day. The following aro ihe complete returns: — Eggs. tangiuru Egg Ranch (Otaki) ... 1,461 A'. 0. Sail (Cust) 1,461 iV. Knight (Hatt) 1,420 L Smith (Svdenliam) 1,396 I. H. Bradford (Cust) 1,388 iV. Balch (Belfast) 1,381 J. W. Hawke (I'apanui) 1,374 S. S. Steele (Kimbolton) L 360 tV. A. Nixon (Uurwood) 1,351 Kennedy (Rangiora) 1,342 L R. Browno (Napier) 1,341 lills 1,330 fohnson .. 1,316 L. Tisch (Dallington) 1,288 ). Anketill , (Masterton) 1,257 L H. Padman (Adelaide) 1,265 Kennedy (Rangiora)' 1,245 itrs. R. Mahon (Oamaru) .- 1.237 I. Willis .and Son ■ 1,234 \ R. Cameron '(Groenmcadows) 1,228 i. W. V. Clarke (Halswell) 1,231 i. B. Menzies (Addington) 1,201 \ Edelston (Motucka) 1,199 I. M. Bannehr (Christchufch) ... '1,206 )ominion Poultry Plant (Coromandcl) 1,180 f. Solomon (Wcstport) 1.178 lothwell and Seddon (Middlemarch) 1,175 legen 1,170 V. Burburv (Addington) / 1,168 5. A. O'Brien (Waihi) 1,158 J. H. Robinson (Christchurch)... 1,178 j. Finn, Wellington 1,160 r ames Ashton (Hanmer) 1,161 I. W. Hawke (Papanui) 1,164 lands (Christchurch) :.' 1,144 ferrall Bros. (Swaiinanoa) 1,146 W. Bradley (Papanui) 1,129 ). Stewart. (Normanby) 1,119 '. A. Corrie (Lincoln) 1,114 L. E. Wilson (Shirley) .1,116 r . W. Bradley (Papanui) 1,103 r. H. Robinson (Christchurch)... 1,088 V. A. Nixon (Burwood) • 1,097 !. H. Robinson (Christchurch)!.. 1,070 r . W. Green (St. Albans) ......... 1.074 L. L. Saunders (Linwood),; 1,059 l. W. Adams (Sheffield) 1,013 L' E. Wilson (Shirley) 1,021 V. A. Nixon (Burwood) ....'. 1,008 V. O. Sail (Cust) 946 V. Knight (Hutfc) 895 !. H. Scott (Onehunga) 881 V. W. Adams (Sheffield) 825 Total 64,105 Tho Duck Competition. The duck competition resulted in an sasy win for Mr. Knight (1078) ; second, fniglit (1002); Hammond, 950; Strong* 129; Nixon, 900; Lucy, 787; Scott, 772; ieddon, 763; Dowthwaite, 756; Scott, '49; Ritchie, 715; Nankovill, 655; total, 0,016. How Laying Competitions Originated, The completion of the egg-laying competition at Papanui yesterday suggests • suitable time to review tho history -f these twelve months' tests that had heir origin in Australia. Tho pronoter of tho first test was Mr. A. A. )uiinicliffe, of tho "Daily Telegraph," nd, since that paper's first test, it has ontinuously devoted an annual sum of noney to the Haivkesbury competition, nd has also done excellent work in deeloping the poultry industry in Austraia. Tho test originated in a simple pay. In tho columns of tho "Daily .'elegraph" an Irishman named Kelly n'ote a letter extolling the virtues of ho Orpingtons as layers. He remarkd to a reporter: "Watch the breeders if other varieties; they will take it up, nd fight like cats." And, sur.o enough, hey did. It was not long before whole olumns of matter appeared, and. chalenges were issued, with the result that in April 1, 1902, tho "Telegraph" comnenced its first competition. Forty>wo breeders entered their pens. The Minister for Agriculture gave his pernission for tho test to be held at lawkesbury, and tho "Daily Telegraph" lonated 20 guineas as prize-money. No entrance fee was charged, but a deposit if £1 was mado by each competitor as i guarantee of good faith. Tho first. >en entered was by Mr". J. E. Pennell, slid tliey were Golden Wyandottes. Hie competition was to bo for six nonths only, but, at tho end of that icriod, interest was keener than ever, md it was decided to extend it for tho ill] year. Thirty-eight of the pens ,vero re-entered for the remaining period, 'ihe rules formulated for that irst test liavo been tho basis .oil which dl other competitions are run. It was lot long before competitions gi'ow popuar, and, ono year, in Australia, thoro vere seven tests. Last year there wero ive, while this year there am to bo ■ .even again—Victoria and Tasmania ' joining their forces. Tho great aim of ;lie competition is to increase the egg yield. Hawkesbury, during the first Svo years, mado rapid strides. Their ivinter laying averago increased from L 6 to 48 eggs per hen, wbilo tho year's results increased from 130 to 171 per hen.. Perhaps tho greatest and best lesson of all was tho raising of tho weight of tho egg to 240z. per dozen. Under this market standard tho percentage of hens laying eggs below that weight decreased from 26 to two per cent. Competitions in New Zealand. In New Zealand our resources arc limited. In 1905-6 competitions wero begun at Bienlioim and Lincoln.' During tho following year Cambridge was added to tho list, and the next year saw Nelson added, whilo last year only ono survived, this being tho continuance of the same tests as were held at Lincoln College, tho only difference being that it was held at Papamii. This year thero will bo only one test, and poultrymen aro fully convinced that one is sufficient. How long competitions will remain popular is a matter of conjccturo. There is too much uncertainty regarding entries, and too much expense in management to tempt others to start competitions in New Zealand. Ono cannot ascribe any special praise to individuals in Now Zealand for starting competitions, as quite a number of poultrymen were interested in tho test. The New Zealand Utility Club formulated tho Lincoln Collego test, whilo the Government experts and a committee organised the test at Blenheim. Tho New Zealand Utility Club has proved tho most enduring, and has done work that has proved of great benefit to all interested in poultry culture. For tho first few tests tho club had a hard struggle. Tho Lincoln College ground was heavy and wet, whilo tho houses wero poorly designed, and tho results wero unsatisfactory. About eighteen months ago the club purchased an excellent property at Papanui, con-

sisting of a six-roomed cottago with outbuildings, and five acres of land. It is aceessiblc by tramcars, and has proved a splendid investment. Tlio test completed yesterday is the first held at J'apantii, and the returns aro excellent, and bv far the best ever attained in New Zealand, besides yielding the best average of all tests held in Australasia this year. The Studholmo Test. One of the most importaut features of the competition is tho Studholmo test. This was originated by Mr. J. Studholme, Canterbury, who has donated a sum of £16 in cash prizes each year for.tho pens laying tho greatest weight of eggs, and showing tho best standard and table qualities. Points aro allotted, and breeders look upon gaining this prize as a great achievement. While tho Leghorns usually attain the highest records in eggs, the Asiatic breeds invariably win the Studholmo prize. Mr. Studholme has again promised to donate his usual £16 for tlie test begun to-day. Tho Committee and Sscretary. The Management C'ommitteo of tho club arc a hardworking and enthusiastic lot of poultrymen. For years'they have given their services freely, and have devoted considerable time to tho competition affairs. A great deal of freo labour in the way of erecting pens and houses, penning and crating birds, purchasing feed, marketing eggs, etc., lias been given, and they deserve great praise. They have been progressive, and have spared no pains to make their competition a really up-to-date affair. As usual in affairs of this kind, a great deal depends upon the secretary. Mr. J. H. Shaw has, for several years, filled this position, and is a worthy officer. The' secretaryship entails enormous correspondence and attention to detail that, if in any way neglected would speedily bring tho. club into dislavour. Tho secretary's position is a most important one. and worthy of substantial remuneration, but, as in the case of other onerous positions, a great deal lias always to be done through genuine interest in the welfare of tho club —genuine interest, and nothing else. The Caretaker. The "man behind tho gun" is the caretaker. .In Mr. Hawkins the club has a trustworthy, and energetic officer. No praise is necessary. His returns each week provo his worth. Poultrymen have only to select a fair number of birds, and compare them with competition returns to learn how well the caretaker knows his work. He is attentive to his duties, and sees every detail with a consciousness which makes for satisfactory service for ail concerned. The Winning PanTho honours havo fallen to Mr. E. Hopkins, Otaki, proprietor of the uru egg ranch. It is his first entry for a competition,' and ho is to bo congratulated on his success. His pen of white leghorns are representatives from his flockof hundreds of birds. All through the test they have. Maintained a steady return of fine, full, averaged-sized eggs. Not until tho last two days of tho test did they manage to overhaul tho winners, and won by a narrow margin of eggs, (three). The Second Pen. A month ago, anyone could almost have wagered that W. 0. Sail, of Cusfc, would clip the honours of the competition. With an excellent lead of thirty eggs, he maintained first position for several weeks, but, fortuno was against him.. In tho third last week, his birds moulted, and, though ho has put up an excellent return, he lost the win in the last lap. Mr. Sail's birds aro a fine team, and it is a credit to the poultry industry of New Zealand that such fine stock havo been reared on a farm in which poultry forms but portion of a living. The Third Pen. Everyone will congratulate Mr. Knight, of Lower Hutt, on his line performance. For several weeks ho also led tho contestants, and, at tho same time, was first and second in the duck tost. Mr. Knight is a poultry breeder of high repute, and his name is known from one end of the Dominion to tho other. The Duck Competition. The returns from the duck test aro disappointing, and it is to bo regretted that tho club started this test beforo they were ready for it. Tho accommodation was faulty and confined, and the ducks have simply been off colour right through. The returns compare poorly with tho cluck tests held at Cambridge and Groymouth. Mr. Knight has won first and secmid, and, under the conditions, his birds havo done well. It is gratifying to know that a series of now runs have been erected, so that the duclc test, begun to-day, starts off with far better prospects than the one that closed yesterday. The Pedigree Sales. One of : tho interesting features at the close of the competition has boon tlio selling of no fewer than 30 pens of tho birds competing in tho test. C. It. Wilson and Co., poultry salesmen, of Christchurch, issued an excellent catalogue containing a list of the pens, thoir breeding, and tho eggs which each pen laid. An entrance fee of Is. was charged for tho club's fund. Tho salo was attended by about CO people. The bidding was spirited, and there were several poultrymen present who wero apparently determined to liavo the birds at any price. At the time that the salo was proceeding, Rangiuru and Sail's pens wcro running oven. Only ono day remained to decide the test. Nearly all the birds wero sold. Tho Rangiuru pen was sold to Mr. J. H. Shaw for £15. It was the opinion of several that had it been actually decided that tho pen had won tho test, tho price would havo been higher. Several other pens wero sold ranging from £1 to £12 15s. per pen. The World's Record. The world's record, for any public test, is 1538 eggs in. the year. For six birds, this ,is truly a remarkable achievement. It was performed at Gatton, Queensland, by Mr. A. H. Padman's birds in the 1908-1909 test. New Zealand ponltrymon aro keenly watching the test at l'apauui. Tlio club has decided to hold the first six leading pens to complete tlio year, so that, though tho test ended yesterday, these pens entered Choir last month for the year's test to-day. It is hoped that tho Rangiuru pen will keep up their present rate for a week or two longer. They havo fivo weeks to run, and have only seventy odd eggs to • lay to beat the record. Sail's pen stood an excellent chance, but they havo broken into a moult, and havo little hope of reaching more than 1500 eggs. Knight's pen, which is third, is too far behind to reduco tho margin, so that practically Rangiuru is tho only pen in the running. A sudden drop into the moult a cold snap of wind and rain, and. Padman's record will stand at least foi another year.' In Australia, thougli there arc fivo competitions this year. Hip best pen i? not likely to reacli 1500 for the year's test. What the Competitions Teach. Tho promoters of the first egg-layinj competitions in Australia, deserve th< thanks of everyone interested in tilt development of poultry, Competitions haye been tho most effectiva juaou* D j

creating interest in poultry, and bringng the possibilities of the laying hen under the notice of the public. A few \-oars ago, tho "200-eggs-a-ycar-hen" ffas ridiculed, and those breeders whose private records warranted their laying claim to such records, were laughed ai. I'he competitions, however, have demonstrated that, not only can individual liens lay 200 eggs a year each, but ivholo flocks of them, and, even where lumbers run into hundreds of birds is they.do in some competitions, the returns are not far oft' the 200-egg mark for the whole of tho birds under tost. Incredible as it seems then, wo have Dtliev evidence to surprise us. Two Inindred oggs per hen have now heeu laid in nine months, while the "250-egg-fi-year-hen" is not by any means ail Jxceptiou. An Educative Force. Not only have tho tests shown us what individual hens can do, but they demonstrate to tho farmer what selection md careful breeding will do to increaso tho egg yield. Tho old plea for tho crossbred as a layer is rarely heard. Hio advocates of tho cross aro extremely few, and exist only where preiudico supersedes reason. Tho birds that have put up our records aro purebred, and the lesson is that, to improve liis flock; tho farmer must adhere to careful and judicious breeding of varieties. The competitions further teach tho value of full, feeding. To produco tho egg, the lien must have an abundance of food. Sho will only give to her awner tho surplus from her requirements to produco warmth, blood, and maintain life. Tho man who stints her feeding has yet to learn tho rudiments if poultry-keeping. Anyone who. studies tho dietary of our competitions is struck with the variety and quantity of food that birds need. Farmers who merely feed their fowls onco a day and expect egg returns will be sadly disappointed, [t pays to feed, and feed well. In the matter of housing and keeping birds clean, tho competitions show how jwners aro rewarded. Houses designed with plenty of fresh air, clean scratching sheds, clean nests, perches, and Jropping hoards will spell profit to the poultry-keeper. The Value of tho One-Year Hen. Another feature of tho competitions is that they have taught us that tho ben is tho best layer in her first year. It is very unprofitable to keep 'hens rfter their first year, for laying alone. 4s breeders they aro tho|best, but not For egg records. Tho Hawkesbury competition has shown this. Noaring tho completion of tho year, tho third-year liens have laid (taking ten pens) 113 eggs each, whilo >tho first-year layers [for the first ten pens) have laid 194 eggs each. The third-year hens merely paid for their food, and gave their )wners no return. The competitions iavo demonstrated what private breedjrs have found out for themselves, viz., that tho most profitable birds to keep ire tho pullets. Tho roaring of stock each season is no doubt a drawback, but proper provision should bo mado ivhero tho poultryman is making the egg market his business. Have Wc Reached tho Limit? There is one thing which robs the competitions of thoir charm—it would appear as if wo have reached a limit'in -Kg production. Tho figures from our tests continue to show that the general iverage has been attained. In ono competition in Australia this year, in eleven months tho loading pen had laid L 419 eggs. Last year, for tho same period, tho figure was 1423, and, three rears ago, 1407, so that nothing is Jeing gained as far as totals aro concerned. I'adman's Gatton record of 1538 two years ago can scarcely bo beaten this year. In tho five tests in Australia GUilrch 31, no. bno has come near the record,, whilo, "in New Zealand, there is a faint hope that wo may beat tho record,' hut tho odds aro jgainst us. "Whilo our individual scores are not increasing, tho general average shows marked improvement. This proves that we have better flocks, and that breeders aro attaining better results in egg producing. Is It Wise to Force? While it is desirable that every poultry-breeder should seek to get rid of his culls, and work up his general average, it is questionable if wo are wiso in forcing higher records from our layers. Is there not a limit? And, having readied it, should ivo not bo satisfied? Tho aim to produco beyond a certain degree carries its penalty! There is not a breeder of any high laying strain who is not faced with ovarian trouble among his layers. What are a few extra eggs in the year if it weakens tho constitution, ruptures tho viduct, causes a high percentage of deaths among tho birds, and makes them almost useless as breeders? Infertile eggs, sickly chickens, (with a heavy demand on the time of their owner in doctoring birds) are not by any means desirablo in an egg farm. It is just questionable whether wo aro not going too far, and there seems nothing to gain in continually forcing fowls until their constitutions aro 50 weakened that they becomo useless. The Egg Machines. White Leghorns havo again shown their wonderful egnj-laying abilities as against all other birds. The first totals wero attained by White Leghorns. The heavier varieties havo done well, and are an objcct lesson for all farmers to study. Answers to Correspondents. V.C.A., Brooklyn No. 1. —Houses shoulc bo built on tho lean-to principle 10 x 24 will accommodate 35 foivli in each section if divided. Tin house should be open fronted for th< locality you speak of. The size 0 runs is determined by the area 0 ground which you havo to spare fo: tho purpose. No. 2. —White leghorns for eggs alone Rocks, Wyandottes, Orpingtons fo eggs, and tablo purposes. No. morning or evening con taming animal food; green fooi through the day and grain at night No. 4.—Trying to start in too big with out gottiiig experience; biiyiaij cheap stock; want of cleanliness am inability to raiso young stock. Wil deal with your questions with other more fully next week. Show Dates. Tho following dates have been grant cd, by : the South Island Association fo tho Marlborough Poultry Association' Show, 1911:—Thursday: aud Friday July 20 and 21.