EGG PRODUCTION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 946, 26 January 1911, Page 4

EGG PRODUCTION.

A most important experiment has been made with results that should be highly satisfactory to all interested in egg-production—-an experiment which proves that mustard, judiciously given, has a wonderful effect in inducing the hens to lay.

The use of spices and drugs to induce egg production is usually pernicious but it has been proved that mustard is free from any objection as an aid to winter production. Tde experiment was carried out by Mr Ralph R. Allen, vicepresident of the Poulty Club, and editor of Monthly Hints on Poultry. His report is published as a pamphlet. The experiment was made on a mountain farm in Wales, exposed to every wind, and was carried on for one year. Buff Orpington pullets were experimented on, birds that had never laid, and were as nearly alike as possible. Food was served plain to six birds in one pen, and with the addition of one teaspoonful of mustard to six in another pen. The experiment began on October Ist, 1909. At the end of six mouths the birds fed with ordinary food had laid 369 eggs, valued at 48s rod, whereas the birds fed with the mustard addition to their food had laid 332 eggs, valued at 71s 3d. At the end of the year the birds fed on the ordinary food had laid 914 eggs, valued at 97s 6d, as agaiust 1053 eggs, valued at 115 s sd, laid by the mustard-fed birds. The cost of mustard worked out at7>4d per bird for the year ; the extra profit gained by mustard feeding equals more than 2s 4d a bird.

During the winter months the extra profit was 3s 3d a bird. Further experiments clearly indicated that the hatching qualities of their eggs had been in no way weakened by the addition of mustard to the feed, fine birds were reared, and stamina was improved and fortified all round. Post - mortem examinations showed that all the birds were in the best condition after the test.