EXCELLENT RESULTS FROM EGG-LAYING TRIALS AT UPPER HUTT

Taupo Times, Volume I, Issue 28, 23 July 1952, Page 7

EXCELLENT RESULTS FROM EGG-LAYING TRIALS AT UPPER HUTT

For the first time since the trials were begun in 1949 a pen of 20 pullets laid more than 4,000 eggs in the 48 weeks of the third breed£rs' laying trial which ended on February 3, 1952, at the Department of Agriculture^ Poultry Demonstration Plant, Upper Hutt. The 20 White Leghorn pullets entered by Mr A. W. Hepburn, of Henderson, Auckland, laid 4,123 eggs in the 48 weeks. The pen of White Leghorns entered by Mr C. L. Bradley, also of Henderson, missed the 4,000 mark by only 42 eggs. Average egg production for both Australorps and White Leghorns showed an improvement over that of previous years. The trial is held essentially with the object of findiiig prospective breeding stock, and Mr Hepburn's pen gained 12 accreditations, the highest at the trial. Eleven of the Australorps entered by Mr E. C. Duddings (Hastings) comprised the next highest accreditation. The accredited bird with the highest production, 271 eggs, was an Australorp from the pen entered by Mr A. J. Smith (Hastings). Among the white leghorns the accredited pullet with the highest total, 253 eggs, was owned by Mr G. A. Walker, Te Horo (Levin). Of the Australorp pullets which laid 180 eggs or more, nine could not be accredited as future breeding birds because of unsatisfacto ;y egg size. Nineteen of the White Leghorns failed to gain accreditation for the same reason. Some of these birds were particularly high producers and may start their "hen year" with larger eggs, but they showed a weakness which the Department of Agriculture maintains should be watched. Oomplete details of the trials, general management, food consumption, and costs are given in an article in the June issue of the Journal of Agriculture.