CHEAPER EGGS.

Shannon News, 23 September 1921, Page 3

CHEAPER EGGS.

POULTRY EXPERT’S OPINION

GROWTH OF THE INDUSTRY

“You can tell the public that they can expect cheaper egg's in future,’ was the first remark made by Mr F. 0. Brown, chief Government poultry expert, to a Napier Daily Telegraph reporter in response to a request lor an interview.

Mr Brown went on to explain the causes that- were operating .to reduce the price of eggs. During the war, prices of food-stuffs went up and so did the price of eggs. Now that the price of. fowl food is coming down there had been a wonderful development in the poultry industry, and plants were springing up all. over the country. Even in the towns, said Mr Brown, the householders were keeping more fowls than formerly, and more people were keeping them. In referring to the remarkable drop m the price of eggs in the Hawke’s Bay district during May and June, MiBrown stated that whilst local climatic conditions may have affected the egg yield it was probable that other causes were operating, such as other cenres dumping supplies. During the war, he . added, the cost of food-stuffs was so high that many fowls were put on a semi-starvation diet, and now :hat the cost is coming down, people were feeding their poultry more liberally, and a well-fed hen would fay better than a half-starved one. It was a mistake not to give the fowl plenty io eat. Referring to the question.of the quality of food, particularly pollard, the expert said that the quality was very low just now. The fact was due to the use of more up-to-date machinery in the mills. The latest plants for producing flour now gave a, return of 42 pounds of flour from every 60 pounds of wheat, and what; was left contained very little of real food value. It .had found that it was better than feeding pollard, to make the mash of- one part of wheat meal to two of bran. -The expert emphasised the necessity, however, of securing wheat meal of good quality only; the other grades were not to be recommended.