THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1418, 19 April 1912, Page 8

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

(By Cliantecier ' ) \

Answers to Correspondents. Our I'oiTcsiHjiuk'nt in last week's note.s is probably currcct in his belief that inmtls sire the cause of killing his birds. Wo am inclined lo think tho causo is ptomaine poisoning, the, result of tlio birds having access to .sonic had meat. The symptoms described bear out this opinion, as birds so alVected act in tho manner described. Egg-laying Competitions. It was anticipated that egg-laying competitions would fail to maintain interest, but it is evident that great interest is being taken in tho various tests in Australasia. Tiio following is a digest of tho report of tho South Australian expert, which is full of information for students of poultry. 'i ho following is a digest of tho voluminous report of the Government Poultry Expert (.Mr. D. I'. Laurie) on the egg-laying competitions which have just closed at lioseworthy Agricultural College ifouth Australia is tlio chief exporter of eggs among the States, (lueensland has a small exportable surplus, but all the other States aro our customers, to the vulue of about .£135,000 per year, for eggs in the shell and in pulp. All countries of tlio world arc making great efforts to develop poultry breeding, and it is a tributo to South Australia and her methods that many inquiries have reached me from foreign sources asking ior bulletins as well as for precise information and advico on subjects connected with poultry breeding. Tho publication and distribution of various reports is resulting in a strong demand Irom India, America, and occasionally from England for our world-famous laying stock. Roseworthy: A Xew World's Record. Rosewortiiy has attained pride of place among tho world's competitions. The score of the leading pen—ls7'J eggs—owned by the Redfern Poultry Farm (Victoria; exceeds that of tho previous record (lolil) .by 15 eggs. The success of the lfedfern Poultry i'arm's pen at Roseworthy is convincing proof of tho importance of careful breeding. Although this pen is ow'neel by an energetic and skilful Victorian poultry breeder, the strain of birds is South Australian. The parents were bred by Mr. A. H. Pndman, of Hyde _ Park, the holder at tho previous world's records, gained at Subiaco and Uattcn. The pen which iuade the world's record at Subiaco was returned to this State on May 10, 1911, and the following monthly scores since are of interest as a record of' sccond season egg production. In 1!) days less than a year the pen has laid 12'Jl eggs, an average of for each bird. The value ol' scientific breeding on definite lines, including selective breeding and single pen testing, is amply dcjnonsiraled by tile achievement of towid bred by Sir. l'adman. History of the Straiu. Mr. Padman first entered his Leghorns nt the Magill competition in l'JOo, and originally founded his strain about three years previously. In its early history lie had recourse to blood ol American and Xew South Wales origin, but since that period his breeding has been by selectivo pedigree, based upon tho performance of hens tested in single pens. A'o sign of any original introductions of outside blood is now in evidence; on the contrary, 51r. l'adnian's typo of white Leghorns is so distinct as lo be readily recognised "by any breeder. It has 'been stated that Mr. Padman introduced blood obtained from Victoria, but this is not in accord with facts. In addition to having won 10 competitions—eight in Australia and two iu New Zealand—Mr. Padmau has the following remarkable record, gained by six pens, viz., 3li hens, which laid 9105 eggs, an average of 1,532.3 eggs per pen oi six hens, or 255 per hen. Stock from birds, sent to England by Mr. Padman has been sold to America, and 75 per cent, of the prominent competitors in Australia and Now Zealand competitions havo bred birds or had eggs from this strain. Weekly Scores. Forty-two eggs is tho possiblo score of a pen of six pullets. It is a curious coincidence that on no occasion has this number been reached during any ofiicial week. Pens of birds havo laid 42 eggs in seven consecutive .(lays, but part of the [Wisiblo was laid iu one week, and part in the next. Tho South Australian weekly score, on several occasions, has stood at 41. The Ivybybolito Competition. Tho problem to bo faced in tho southeast was governed by the climatic conditions. A short experience demonstrated that adequate housing was of first importance, and all the poultry houses wero converted into what are known as scratching sheds. These are only 8 x •lift., vet under theso conditions tlio birds wero not only profitably productive, but remained in perfect health, and their plumage after six months' confinement would have excited admiration of an old exhibitor of fancy poultry. Tho result shows that tho adverse winter climatic conditions can bo neutralised by good housing, and that the available foods aro well suited for egg Tho winning pen, owned by Messrs. Jloritz Brother's, of lCalangadoo, put up the splendid score of 1464 eggs, a record of which would havo been remarkablo a few years ago. The owners have bred consistently and furnish further proof of tho value of strain, the result of scientific breeding. The general average at Ivybybolito is very satisfactory. Factors and Averages. One of iho objects of tho South Australian laying competitions is tho encouragement of novico breeders. Tho care and attention necessary to eusuro success assist in tho cultivation of the powers of observation. Necessarily the fast that many novico breeelers are testing their birds tends to lower the averages. This fact need not weigh unduly. When tho mass of our breeders havo expert knowledge we may expect greater things. Apart from the above factor and' that duo to oscillations in breeding, wo havo others unrelated. Tho laying hen has a highly nervous organisation. External factors, such as tho weather, temperature, variations in food, and excitement, etc., all tend to derange tho delicate machinery of reproduction. Laying Competitions and Poultry Breeders. Tho chief failing among poultry breeders is lack of that observation which is essential to successful breeding. Tho supervision of laying competitions in which so many breeders, experienced and inexperienced, have been represented enables mo to judge of tho progress or otherwise of our breeders, individually and collectively, in tlio direction of breed and improvement. Many havo not vet grasped tho truo significance of quality in breeding stock. They will purchase eggs or birds from a noted brooder, and advertise that their stock is So-and-so's blood. Tlie.se breeders do not always buy of the best, beeauso they fail to recognise that tho specially selected are tho result of infinite and careful labour, and aro correspondingly more costly to produce. Few breeders can afford to select so rigidly that nothing but the highest class of stock is sold by them. Thero is always a demand for the less valuable grade, because the lesson is not yet learned that tho bsst only is worth having. As regards egg production, »our breeders are better, situated than those of any other country. The seienco of breeding for egg production is on a sure fooling iu this State, and Iho rules are not numerous. but aro generally simple, and easy to comprehend. Much that is written in books is from the pen of those who never kept an egg record and whose knowledge of breeding and feeding for egg production is conspicuous by ils absence. As a result, of reading such books, manv of our breeders have destroyed their liocks by un-rientific introduction of new blood. The introduction of fresh blood, iu some, cases, results in progeny of increased vigour. but in laying fowls if means a break in the lino of heredity, with consequent reduclion of laying power. There should be no loss of stamina, vigour, powers of reproduction, and fertility, if Iho scheme of breeding is scientific. Xew blood should be introduced when required, but siioiiitl be kept separate from the main ilock. Select a male bird and mate him with houa of the new blood specially soIcctcd for tlio fluxDOJta in .view, Tlia ro-

Milling pullots should be ciirofnllv tested m single* jions for one year, and llic various characters of each should lie carefully noted. Thoso which prove satisfactory may in their second year be muled wilii :l M.'lortfd cockerel of the original strain. Iho first out cross mating may Ims ljrcd lrrim a second and even a third year, if tile first results are as desired. When tho external characteristics require alteration recourse may lie had to reciprocal matings, that is, bv introducing now blood on tho nialo side and proceeding as suggested. Manv of our breeders would lor many reasons bo well advised to obtain fix-'.sh blood. A number of si rains have broil perpetuated on lines which aro not thoroughly sound. Food for Breeding Stock. Too little attention' is paid to tho importance of proper foods and methods of teeding in regard to tho breeding slock. JI: is not sufficient to havo stock bred for egg production; it is essential that stock should bo fed for definite cuds. Wheat IS depended upon too much. It is deliciont m tat?, ami is largelv of oarboJiydrato (starchy) nature, In feeding biccdiiij* stock it is important to remember the efket upon tho progeny. Fat is the main, if not tho oxclusivo, source of energy used up during the development ot tho embryo. Tho fat fed to breeding stock may bo of animal or of vegetable ougin. Oats contain a big percentago and should bo used freely. Tho food should bo varied as much as possible. Too much carbo-hydrate (starchy) content in tho food tends to abortion, and probably accounts ior many of tlio troubles connected with fowls. At tho poultry stations a large .amount of lucerne," both green and as lucerno liav chaff, has been used. The result is most gratifying, and the colour of tho yolk of tho eggs is very noli, a marked contrast to most of tho country eggs received during summer. Weight of Eggs. Regulation 12 is as follows:—Any pens, the eggs from which do not attain an average weight of 2407.. per dozen by July 31, 1911, will bo ineligible to participate in tho prize money. Tho eggs were weighed on July 31, and . all pens tho eggs of which failed to reach the standard of 21oz. to tho dozen were declared ineligible for prizes. By July 31 all pullets properly grown when; entered on April 1 should be laying eggs as largo as any they would lay during their first year. A dozen average eggs from each pen- were weighed subsequently at two other periods. Tho report deals with the size of Leghorns, the vices of cannibalism, egg-eat-nig, and feather-eating among fowls, the ovarian organs, tinted eggshells, and tho necessity for eliminating broodiness. Superintendents' Reports. The superintendent of tho Roseworthv station (Mr. W. R. Day) reported that out of 726 birds 35 diea. Six or seven cases of chickenpox occurred, but the general health of the birds was good. Mr. Day entered into much detail, which will be available to poultry breeders in tho official issue of the report. Food to the value of .£IS9 was use el in tho test. Tho superintendent of the Kybylwlitc station reported only two deaths'. 'There were 45,710 eggs laid, of a value of ,£lB7 as. Tho cost of feeding was ,£7B, and profit over cost of feeding ,£lO9 ss. 3d. BRITISH EtiG MARKET. OFFICIAL REPORT OK N.Z. SHIP- | MENT. At tho end of last year Messrs. Reilly, Scott, and Gill, of Dunedin, made an experimental shipment of eggs to the London market, consisting of 20 boxes,, each containing 22 dozen eggs. When the shipment was opened up and inspected, tho Government Produce Inspector was present, arid tho Agricultural Department with Iho following ofiicial report on the matter:— "I inspected tho eggs on their arrival at Messrs. Lane's warehouse. Tho cases in which they wero contained were strong and well made. It would bo better, however, in future shipments to havo tho cases made of rather lighter wood and larger in size. Thoso now received were of a size that could be handled by one man, and there was accordingly every inducement for them being handled rather carelessly and roughly, so causing breakago of tho contents. Continental cases usually contain 14-10 eggs and weigh about 2ewt. gross. I would suggest that wood similar to that of which cheese-cases are mado should lie used. • Tho wood must, of course, bo thoroughly dry, as tho slightest uioisturo in the case would causo tho eggs to deteriorate and havo a musty smell.

"Each Now Zealand case contained 201 eggs, which, r.fter being treated with somo sort of preservative—that unfortunately imparted to them ti sticky feci—had been wrapped in tissue paper. They were carefully packed in oat-husks. Tho oat-husks make aa excellent packing, but neither tho tissue paper not tho preservative are considered necessary. Everyone connected with tho egg trade hero maintains that eggs collected in spring, as theso were, if carefully packed and shipped without delay, will keep in sound condition 1 sufficiently long to reach the london market and roaliso good prices without the uso 'i any preservative. The present shipment lias been sold for 10s. 6d. per 'long hundred'—i.e., 120 eggs—net. Owing evidently to tho rough handling of tho cases, there were a good many broken eggs, and theso naturally destroyed many others. Out of 5280 eggs shipped I\6o were damaged. '

"All the eggs were stamped''New laid.' This, of course, should not be done, as the mark is recognised on tho market here as a guarantee that the eggs bearing it are newly laid. Of course, eggs coming from New Zealand could.not bo described in this way when .offered by tho letailers. New Zealand eggs should be shipped unstamped, so as to be sold on their merits, proved by tasting, on arrival. No buyer, of course, is deceived by the stamp on them. They probably might bo sold as fresh eggs. Messrs. Keilly, Scott, and Gill mako tho following remarks on the above report "With all duo respect to the Commissioner's report, we think that it would bo simply suicidal to ship eggs Homo to England if this precaution (treated with a preservative) were not taken, and unless the eggs were Carrie*! in a special chamber. Had tho eggs not been wrapped in paper, it appears to us that fully 50 per cent, of them would have been broken. However, it is possible that wo might send another tiial shipment Home next ppring. We aro thinking of shipping five thousand dozen in the preservatvc and five thousand without the preservative, and using either cardboard filling or wood-woollen packing. For the recent experiment wo used ono lino of eggs irom one of our very best consignors, whose eggs were all stamped and guaranteed new laid befiro sending to tho market, and we let them go fonvird under this brand. Wo woro informed by our agents that the buyers stated that the quality of the eggs was equal to (ho best oversea eggs in (ho market, though we regret to inform you that financially tho experiment proved a dismal failure, tho net prico to us being GJd. prr dozen, llad we hold them in our store until the present timo they would bo worth to us Is. 3d. per dozen."