THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2007, 14 March 1914, Page 15

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

A (By Chantecler.)

Poultry Statistics in Now Zealand, The Christchurch "Press" says:— "Conversing with Mr. J. B. Merrett, a reporter ascertained some interesting figues relative to the value of poultry and eggs in Now Zealand. According to the census of 190(5 there were 3,191,604 birds, and in 1911, 3,693,137, making an increase for a period of fiveyears of 561,533. Tho number of laying fowls fit 1911 was. 2,769,853, and the average eggs laid per hen seven dozen, making a total of 19,388,971 eggs. These, worked out at the average pneo of Is.,' brought a revenue of £969,443. There wore also 923,284 tablo birds in 1911, and these valued at. tho average sale rate produced £92,328,- and th«Li value of hens sold each year equalled £207,738, making tho total yearly value of poultry products to producers in New Zelaand £1,269,514. These figures show (said Mr. Merrett) that we. have an industry that the Government should continue to assist and protect. An instance of individual effort in poultryikeeptng -n-as given where one producer had received from one firm £5500 in five years solely for market eggs. The Wairarapa Egg Circle had just completed its fourth year, representing nearly_ £9000 for eggs alone to its members in four years. On the last Vancouver mail. Mr. Jlorrett received from his Vancouver agent advice that 2,000,000 eggs had been landed from China. In addition 14,400,000 had been sent from Shanghai to Sail Francisco and Shanghai merchants were negotiating to exploit the New Zeajand market. Were it a competition in price (added Mr. Merrett) with the Chinese eggs, we aro hopelessly lost, but when it comes to quality it is charitable to draw a veil over .the eugenics of Chinese ogg productionMen .the Government has done so much- for -the industry, it is natural they will protect us from such an myasion. ■ ■ . Auckland's Enthusiasm. ■j: An association, to be called the Auckland Poultry-keepers' Association, has been formed in Auckland. The idea of the promoters is to strengthen the hands of the New Zealand Poultry Asspciation in , its efforts to uplift the poultry industry within tho Dominion\ It was pointed out at the initial meeting that tho last census returns 'show that the total annual value of the egg production in New Zealand is estimated to be £1,250,000, and that if to this is added the value of cockerels, stock birds, and eggs sold 'as settings, the total'value would probaWy he not Jess than £2-,500,000. Tho production of the fruit industry,, it was pointed out, in camparison was only valued at £600,000, yet was seemingly considered far more deserving of fostering care. The chairman of the meeting, gave an outline of various matters connected with the -poultry industry which needed attention on the part of tho Government and on which the Government had been approached. One of these was tho reduction of tho tariff on poultry industry implements. There was a necessity for the institution of a, State poultry instructional staff. ; At present there was only one Government poultry inspector. Poultry instructors were needed all over the Dominion in order to save large sums, of monoy which were lost through. egg wastage. It. was almost impossible to put an ; estimate- on the value of eggs which were wasted owing to tha want of knowledge and care. He was sure -that -a sum of £5000 oouW'jiot Jtesan§jdered fojjo, 'an excessive 'estimate:'"The" egg ex'pmf' trade, ■■', he . continued,"'heeded : to* be 'workedirap.,and placed.in:a.;;strong position'.. desirable that tho Govern-ment-•should'; ?o recognise tho impdrtanco of the egg export trade that. , it would bring pressure to bear in.shipping quarters - in the direction of-having proper'facilities provided on ships for the carriage of eggs. There was a State experiment farm for agriculture in the Dominion) and' it was necessary that State experiments for the benefit of the poultry industry 'should bo , carried out also. There were a number of ways ■.in which a poultry club might bo useful, and one of tho most important was the question of grain buying., Egg-laying competition udder State, supervision ought to bo carried'out in order that egg-laying records might be "hall-mark-ed" by the Government; '

- .'• Scientific Feeding. With regard to feeding, a good deal might bo said- Looking at the matter, scientifically, it is obvious fowls neeoV more food in winter than in summer, but we must not givo .them food that turns to fat, not to eggs. And the best food to produce eggs in winter is meat. It can be given in various forms. 'In America they believe in raw bones ciitdnto shreds,' but this food/ though largely used here, is still neglected by the. majority "of poultry-keepers. And, after all, meat meal can hardly be improved upon. There aro various brands on the market, and without' the use of ono of them, or buying and boiling down butchers' scraps, oneself for the fowls, there will be few winter eggs: Various efforts have been made to. avoid the trpublo of giving fowls a hot breakfast of Boft food by 8 o'clock in the morning, but the egg basket tells its tale and its absolute necessity remains unshaken. ■ Ground oats or biscuit meal, with an equal quantity of sharps or pollard added—kir one can try making tho'sharps two-th'rds of the whole —mixed with boiling hot water, and tho whole in a friable mass given as hot as possible to the fowls,.-, is an excellent food. The meat made into broth can bo added jn the water. A scanty midday 'meal' of grain hidden in chaff should - follow at noon, and the afternoon feed about an lw* before roosting . time.. ' This latter should consist of sound grain, wheat, maize, or oats. Give the fowls all they aro hungry for, but never feed so that food is left. Good stock, good shelter, good foodgiven these, provided tho poutrykeeper exercises' his. intelligence, no will within limit, bo able to defy winter and. get plenty of winter eggs. On Roup In Fowls. On roup. Mr. E. Brown, T.1.Z., the noted Englisn authority) says:—"Roup is really a combination of diseases, as it embraces a cold in the head and derangement of the digestive system, or,i as is moro often tho case, scrofula- in tho system. In manv instances ' the scrofula or stomach derangement has been previously quiescent, but cold baying been induced by a sudden chango in the weather, or from exposure, disease is developed,'and takes the form of roup. Externally there aro all the

symptoms as in common cold, viz., running at the nostrils, sneezing, or cough, and in many cases a pufling up or swelling around the eyes. In tho I worst forms thero is a cheesy substance I beloiv the eyelid, sometimes entirely , covering up the eye." Tlio causes of Toup aro:—Damp, cold, insufiicient ven- \ tilation,' insanitary conditions, and conI'tngiou.' At. this tirao of tho year, iiwrhon. the season is changing and tho birds about to moult are out of sorts, and are more open to the attack of diseas.es, cold may develop into roup, Especially if they are neglected..'Extra ;caro in feeding, 'housing, and cleanli- ; ness is required at this particular time, and it' is also wise to have some, roup ■.pills on hand to give to the birds directly they begiii to cough and sneeze, and so prevent the development of the nioro serious and dreaded ailment of roup.

EGG-LAYING COMPETITIONS-

The returns, for tho forty-eighth week of tho Now Zealand Utility l'oul■try Club's ninth- egg-laying, test- for fowls aro as'follow:—

A. W. Adams, Sheffield, Silver Wyan- ; dottes, 18—876; A. E. Wilson, Shirley, Silver Wyandottes, 20—1103; W. Knight, Hutt, Silver Wyandottes, 11— 814; Jas. Ashton, Hanmer, Silver Wyandottes, 22—903; Thos. - Wilson, Marshlands, Silver Wyandottes, 16— 945; W.O. Sail, Cust, Silver Wyaadottes, 33—989; S. H. Scott, Onehunga, Silver Wyandottes., 16—1082; A. E. Wilson, Shirley, White Wyandottes, 28—1080; T. Kennedy, Rangiora, Wh. Wyandottes, 19—898; King and Watson (N.S.W-), Black Orpingtons, 13— 922 j ■ Verrall Bros., Swaiinanoa, Brown Leghorns, 20—071; J. H. Shaw, Christchurch, Brown Leghorns, 24—1229; A. W. Irvine, Mount Roskill, Blue Mat. Leghorns, 17—1080; H. Leger, Wereroa, White, Leghorns, 3—653;. Here■taunga P. Club, Silverstream, White Leghorns No. 2, 14—1276; R. W. Hawke, Papanui, White Leghorns, 25— 1212; J. Wordsworth, Geraldine, White Leghorns, 4—1066; A. W. Irvine, Mount Eoskill, , White Leghorns No;" 1, 22-f 1066; Middlepark P. Farm, Riccartori, White Leshorns, 19—1106.; T. .White, Napier, White Leghorns, 10—989; Stewart and Landsperg, Normanby, White Leghorns, 15-T-1221; J. A. Corrie, Beckenham, White Leglioriis, l l2—ll33; 1 , . Mason, • Hutt, White Leghorns, 18— 1221; G. Bonnett, Sproydon, White' Leghorns, 23—1208; R. Willis'and Son, New--Brigliten,~Whito' Lefihoftis, 22—" .1141; ?Bra(!kenfield P. Farm, Riccarton,,Columbiaji Wyandottes, 13—1121; Mrs. J. Mills, Dunodin,, White Leg-horns,-13—1157 ;-RrArXazarus, Hutt, 22—1254; .A.-.W." -Irvine, Mount Roskill, White Leghorns No.'2, 11—1167; Mrs. J. Green, St. Albans, 22—1157; Mawson Stowart, : Ghristchurch, Wliite Leghorns, 14—1015; R. James, Marshlands', White Leghorns, 19—1248;) J. W. Green,' St.'Alljans, White Leghorns, 10—1217; I. Stcphensou, Wanganui, White Leghorns, ;I0—1208; Mawson Stewart, Christeuurch, • Whito Leghorns, 11—1154; N. Solomon, .Wcstport. White Leghorns, Verrall Bros., Swannaiiqa,''3o-7-1257. • ■ ■

■ FOR DUOES. \[NW Zealand Utility Poultrf Club's foartli .laying tost for ducks. 'Returne for forty-eighth week.] Total Total lor to .' . ' ' week. date. -W Kniehl, H<itfc (No. 1) Indian- Runiiers 12 1115 W. Kniutt, Hutt (No. 2) Indian Runners 9 1028 Heretaunga P. Co., Silverstream, Indian Runners 12 916 Thos. Do>vthwaite, Avondale, Indian Rnnnors 12 967 IV. Mercer, Howick, Indian ' iiers 25 989 Miss A. Donald, Dmisandel, Indian. Rumiers 14 946 A. It. Browne/, I'ctane : Beach, Indianßunners 15 928 TWO YEARS' COMPETITION. [Two years'- cgg-lnjing tesl for fowls. Returns for ninety-ninth week—fortyseventh week of second year.] ■ Total Total • ' ■ for to . .„'■• :• week, date. T.-Kennedy, Rnneiora, Silver Wyandottes 19 2196 Roninm Muii(;pr Hutt>, Black Orpingtons ...... 8 1766 Roretaung.i P. Co., Silverstream, '-. W ; liite Leg-' . horns 27 2652 T. W. Green, Christchurch,. . White Legohrns '24 2420 H. Lener, Levin, ' Wliito ■ ' .Leghorns ....'..■.•'18 2483 \V. A. lSixon v .ChristChurch, Wii. Lcsiiorns 10 2589 FOR DUCKS . [Two Years' E«g-laying Test for Ducks. Returns for ninety-ninth week —forty-seventh', week of second year.] Total Total for to week. date. f'nos. Dowtlnvaite. Avondale Indian Runners 19 2367 Herotannga P. Co., Silverstrsam, Indian Runners 17 2365 T. R. Hnll, Wereroa, Indian Runners 32 2711 P. Keller, Rolleston, Indian Runners •. 4 2160 S. H. Scott, Onehunga, Buff Orpingtons 14 1853

. . ■ . ..• ' Total Total, for ■ to ■: ... .. ... week. date. A. It. Browne, Pelaiie " ' '• Beach,. Wh, Lcghorais .26.-> .1418, Thomas Fazaekerloy, Woplr ■ , . • ..- ston, White Leghorns 14 1834. Wainoni . Poultry , Jj'arm,. :v; "■'■,. ■ '■' Wainoni, W. Leghorns- 30: I 1327 W. If night, Hutt, White ■ : , Leghorns 21 -1323 'T. M'llwraith, West Mel- . .. .- ■ ton, V/h. Leghorns :... 23 1318 Mrs. ■ Ansley, Broinloy, ■ ■.'■;.•;. Leghorns. .......•••. t .; 22; '_ 1313 Thomas Vo.su, Cartorton, : ■ i AVliite Leghorns • 21 : 1313 Dominion P. i'lant, Coromahdfil, White Leghorns 15 1306 H. S. Woodnorth, Winton, Whito Leghorns 19 1294 D. Y. Gibson, Herbert,

White Leghorns 21 1291