THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1752, 17 May 1913, Page 15

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

A Generous Supporter. There is at least ono farmer in New Zealand who recognises the value of tho poultry industry, and who has devoted almost .£IOO during the past five years for competition at the egg-laying test. It ia 6afo to say that Mr. John Studholme has at least done as much to promote and assist tho rai.ing of table poultry as anyono in Now Zealand, and poultry men and , the public aro indebted to him for his continued support. His name will no ■ doubt always be associated with the wellknown prizes at the New Zealand competition. To win the Studholme prizes is, of course, the ambition of every coinEetitor, and to win the first prizo is igh distinction indeed. The Studholme Prizes, 1913. It is not often the first prize in the Studholme tests falls to tho pen that lays the most eggs, but this year it did, and that by a very small margin. It was only by a. fraction that Mr. Nixon achieved the honour. The prizo (.£l6) is given for most points as table specimens, 6how specimens, and weight of eggs. Mr. Nixon's birds scored 81.9, with 1614 eggs, while Mr. Green came second, scoring 84.9 with 1402 eggs. Mr. Leeer scored 83.2 with 1463 eggs. The quality of the eggs laid by their pons is somewhat remarkable. Mr. Green's 1492 weighed 1991b. lsoz. 14dwt., while Mr. Nixon's 1614 weighed only 1941b. 3oz. .4dwt.„ and Mr. Leger's 1163 weighed 1921b. 13oz~. It is >vident that the club should take note of ;heir variations, and give encouragement ia weight rather, than numbers. The New Zealand Utility Poultry . Club's. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of tho New Zealand ■ Utility Poultry Club was held on May 6. The report was encouraging, and showed inter alia that the club is carrying out what may bo termed "aggressive" work. The balance-shect also revealed a splendid financial position, indicating that the funds are carefully husbanded. The total receipts for tho year were .£735 15s. 3d., and the expenditure ,£'659 17s. Bd., leaving a credit balanco at bank of <£75 17s. 7d., with twelvo months' feed in hand, and paid for. Tho assets total .£422 3s. 2d. One does not wish to uso this as an example of how jioultry-farming pays, but it certainly is an indication of the'value of good laying hens. An Annual Dinner. The New Zealand Utility Poultry Club las decided to hold its annual dinner on Slay 23. The Mayor of Christchurch and several members of Parliament have been invited, and also the whole of the members of the club, Tho function will help to bring tho poultry industry more into light. One weakness of the poultryman is that he is backward in making use of certain agencies that could help to popularise and interest tho public in his work.

——♦ (By Chantecler.) >.

The fruit, dairy, and honey industries show a far more aggressive spirit. The 1914 Competition, A visit to tho prosent test pens shows that an excellent lot of birds have been entered. They are more matured tlwn previously, and show that greater care has bean spent ou them than in former years. Here and there, however, are signs of indifference. Some birds have scaly legs, showing that their owners are hardly any precautions at home. Others aro very "wild," and are "scared at a visitor's approach. This indicates that they havo not been handled. A number show signs of cold, which may possibly result from the open crates in which they were shipped. The coop should always be protected on three sides, that tliQ birds aro not exposed to cold winds. VVe may expect some good returns; whether we can beat tho present world record remains to bo seen.

The World's Record. New Zealand now enjoys the honour of having the world's record pen of layers. Six bards in tho public test have laid 1632 eggs in one year. This .is a sphmdid achievement for Mr. Nixon, and he deserves the congratulations of.every poultryman. It is pleasing to note that the Australian papers are accepting the _ records without doubt. Their own previous record of 1589 took some overhauling. Their world's record for ducks (1601) will no doubt 'stand for some time, and one scarcely expects to see Mr. Nixon's record broken for a number of years. A 100-Bird Test. In his recent remarjts on the laying competitions, the South Australian Poultry Expert said: "Many people agree with my contention that a most convincing test would be one of 50 or 100 pullets for competition. There are several large poultry plants in existence, and there will be more in a year or two. Ten competitors each entering 109 pullets would make a test .which would be an invaluable guide to those contemplating breeding • poultry on a largo scale for egg-production. Two of ;the now Parafield scratching-shed system houses would accommodate theso 1009 pullets on a commercial plan. Each house has five divisions, each accommodating 100 pullets."; At present each competition pen consists of six pullets, awl, as the poultry-farmer could not profitably crnduct an egg business unless he yarded, fed, and housed the hens in big numbers. • the desire of tho Poultry, Expert to give him figures from hens run on this plan is commendable, but is such information: really necessary? Really a Duplication. For 10 years the competitions have been conducted, and they have returned varying profits over cost of food up to 10s. 10d. per hen, whichj was got from the last

Koseworthy competition. This profit was obtained from 801 hens of all sorts; good, bad, and indifferent, and all run in open, exposed yards. It is true that hens will lay relatively letter in lots of six; the larger tho number run together, the smaller tho average yield, is u proved fact in poultry-keeping, but, even so, tho data gained oujjlit to bo sufficient to allow the man who is contemplating tho breeding of layers on a largo scale to decide whether ho can do so profitably. Ho should have no difficulty in deciding, bechuso ho ought to gut inoro than an 182 ■averago from 4000 picked liens (it is assumed that ho would start with ,tho best strains procurable) run in the. scratchinghouse, which gives a belter average than open yards as has now been proved. In these circumstances why have a 100-bird test, which would really amount to a duplication, and therefore bo unnecessary ?

No One Will Part With 100 Pullets. Another point which will probably prevent tho 100-bird business from owning to anything will be tho difficulty of inducing 10 men to each part with 100 picked pullets. Assuming that the profit over cost of food would be lis. per hen (it was 10s. 10d. last time at Hoseworthy) each man's liens would turn in £ob. Now, some mighty big inducement would need to bo held out to cause a poultry farmer ti send away hens that would bo worth <£1 per week to him at his own place. Added to th'is would bo the loss of sales that would occur if tho birds were at Parafield. To my way of thinking, it is so unlikely that any man would part with his best. 100 pullets for twelve months that the Poultry 1/xpert a idea is likely to remain in the air, and more especially as there does not appear to be any necessity for duplicating tho prosent competition which is what the proposition, after all is said, really amounts to, in my opinion.