THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1722, 12 April 1913, Page 22

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

The Secretary of, the Egg-laying Competition Interviewed. A closo observer, a painstaking secretary, an enthusiastic and studious breeder of poultry, thero aro few' men in the U.P. Club capable of giving such an accurate ana far-reaching opinion on egglaying competitions' as Mr. J.- H. Shaw, tho secretary. His namo is well known to poultry men, and it is largely owing to iiis enthusiasm that tho' club owes its position to-day. So the writer 6ought him out, with a view to obtaining information for readers. I found him busy working out statistics,' and compiling facts in relation to tho club's tests. Some of the questions put to him were questions that many readers will no doubt liko to seo answered from an official who can speak with authority. Popularity of tho Tests. Do you tliink that tho competitions will maintain their popularity? Can tho club look forward to tho annual tests to be continuously supported? i "res," answered' tho secretary, "so long as they arc conducted on unquestion- . ablo lines, fresh experiments introduced, and the lessons learned from the tests aro disseminated through tho press. For instance the club is keeping tho four leading pens' in ducks and fowls in the tests just ended for a second year, but, as the Indian Runner and Whit© Leghorn filled tho positions in their respective tests, the 1 leading -pen of Silver Wyandottes and Black Orpingtons will also bo retained for the. second-year-fowl and a pen of Buff Orpingtons for tho second-year duck test. These tests are sure to create interest. Judging by the increased correspondence received (after issuing the . last schedule) relative to the annual tests, I believe that tho club can. rely, on good support in tho way of entries for some years to come." What aro tho principal reasons for continuing tho tests? What are. they doing to'build ;up the poultry industry? The reply was: Firstly, to demonstrate the best possible results from fowls and ducks under proper conditions. The following statement shows that the club has justified its formation and existence: — wa . g.B h « . *3 £-2 s . Fowlcompo- ri&Ss 1! IS £3 tition. a Hft !> O.S F4 Ist, 12 months 38 132.23 U 11* s'llj 5 llj 2nd, 12 months'Bß 100 9 0 5 4 3 8 ' 3rd, 10 months 48 150 13 8J 5 103 7 S 4th, llj m'ths. 41 180 17 6 610 10 8 sth, 12 months 48 169 17 1 G 910 4 6th, 11 months 56 198 19 2J 64512 10 7th, 12 months 60 197 17 4£ 69* 10 7 Bth, 51 weeks 60 200.8 18 10 69£12 8J "The first duck (added the secretary)' test only showed a profit of Is. 7Jd. per bird; the second about 9s. per bird, and the third lis: fid. profit, per bird. It is, therefore, quite noticeablo that the tests have done much to raiso tho standard of poultry in the Dominion,, and has been the means of inducing numbers of people to take up small areas of land, and purchase reliable purebred stock as a sideline, and found them profitable. "With othor organisation the Utility Poultry Club last year mado representations to the Government to test outside markets, and tho commercial poultryinen will' not bo slow in taking advantage of tho new markets during September, October,' and December months. "Tho constitution of the Utility Poultry Club, I am sorry to say, will not allow it to carry on a trading business—such as tho exporting of eggs. What Interest to the Farmer? Do you. not think the effect of the competitions is to interest specialists only, but not farmers wlio produce seven-tenths of tho poultry products in New Zealand ? "Yes, it- certainly has that tendency. Tho specialist, is keenly interested. He devotes much time to tho mating, the selection, and the rearing of his stock, and watches results closely. Tho farmer' is interested only in a ■ lesser degree. Ho reads the results in weekly papers, and satisfies himself as to whom' no will get stock from when he wishes a chango of blood. So it comes that the" farmer of to-day keeps better layers than tho farmer of seven years ago. This, I think, is mainly through the distribution of proved tested strains at egg-laying competitions." The Wonderful Laying This Year. How do you account for the phenomenal laying cf birds this last year as compared with) 6ix or seven years ago? "firstly, because the specialist-breeder is making' a closer study of constitutional points in his breeding pons. I believe tho iirst.und second prize pens were bred from thr'eo' and four-year-old stock possessing great stamina.;' ; Secondly,. tho past year was a very favourable season for getting a good egg-yield. The dietary for the birds, as well as tho conditions for housing have bean greatly improved during tile last six years." •Do you ever think that we can look forward to a higher record than tho ono obtained in the last competition? "It is highly improbable that such/ a score of 1632. eggs'from" six pnllets will bo beaten for somo time, but I shall not be surprised to see the, general averago go up much highor in egg-laying competitions now that tho specialist breeder is making a closer study of constitutional points." Beginners and Their Purchases. Would you advise beginners to purchase competition pens as breeders? Yes; if they had their old feathers on at the close of tlio test, such birds are well worth a guinea each as breeders. Birds with new plumage, on April 1 I would discard as.breeders." Can high returns be secured from their progeny, and the general health and vigour bo retained? "Yes, by suitably mating the birds,! giving them a good grass run and caring properly for the young stock." AVhat is your advice to competitors preparing a pen for tho competition? "Breed from well-matured birds', showing stamina, health, and vigour. Type I am also a great believer in.' Do not forco tho young birds to maturity until 61 months old. When selecting team, look firstly for constitution. A weakly bird will probably reduce one's total by 150 eggs; two weakly, birds by .100 eggs an tho year, whereas tho four well-reared birds will probably have made as good an average per bird as the leaders' in the competition. It is unwiso to forward a bird which has had a cold or a check in its growth. State Supervised Competition. Do you think that competitions held under Government supervision would enlist greater support? ■ "No, not greater support, as many of thp leading breeders from the North Island havo visited tho competition at Papanui, and liavo expressed themselves satisfied with tho conditions and tho manner in which the tests aro conducted." Do you expect that other countries will doubt tho high returns obtained? "No, I do not. It would bo a wasto of time to

I , (By Chantecler.)

scarcity of tablo birds? "Thero is the anticipate doubt and suspicion on the part of those who arc not spcrts. Our record . books are open to tho press for inspection, as well as members, and our annual bal-ance-sheet (audited by an outside auditor) will show tho account sales for eggs." Sizes of Competition Eggs. . How do the eggs laid by tho leading pens obtaining over 1400 eggs comparo in sizo and quality with those of a few 5-ears ago, when 1200 eggs was considered a high record? "I do not wish, to individualise at present 011 this question. When the Studholmo test figure;! now in tlio hands of the club's auditor, and when certified him are mado public, I feel suro that it -rill bo found that somo of thoso with ovor 1100 eggs will havo' a very grsat weight. As the ducks havo not a Studholmo test running, I might montion that tho pen which carried off tho laurels in this test laid much the largest eggs as well as numbors." ■ The Scarce Table Birds. Do you not tliink tile popularity of the White Leghorn as a layer is filling the country with light birds, and so running the table-poultry industry in (he Dominion? Do you not think Wyandottes a good.utility fowl? "Yes, it is fashionable to have Whito Leghorns. I should like to see more Wyandottes competing. Ono competitor, I believe, has been represented with-Silver Wyandottes in tho Inst six tests, and his averago for that period is 312 eggs per bird." What aro you doing to counteract the Studholme prize, and thia year tho club has offered special prizes and some private specials have also been to encourage poultrymen to" competo with heavy breeds." How did tho health of thp birds in the tests comparo now with thoso of a few years ago ? '!Tho health of tho birds is improving yearly. Stronger birds are being forwarded. Not a 6inglo death occurred in tho duck' test, and tho six prize pens of fowls went right through tho test." . Do you' consider • the dietary used at the competition the best for egg-produc-., tion without unduly forcing the birds? "Yes. I would not like tc see much variation made in tho present; bill of fare." Does your experience cf 1 tho egg tests prove that poultry-farming a 6 a living may be > mado a profitable occupation? "It would depend on the man behind the venture—an apprenticeship is .necessary, as is the case in any other calling." - ■ '■