POULTRY INDUSTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 February 1919, Page 6

POULTRY INDUSTRY.

LECTURE BY GOVERNMENT EXPERT. A lecture on matters relating to the poultry industry was delivered at the Soldiers' Club last night by Mr. E. C. Jajrrett, Government expert. Mr. W. Scott presided, and there was a good attendance. Mr. Jarrett prefaced his remarks with a word of congratulation to the Taranaki Egg Circle, at whose request he had come to the district, for the attention they were giving to the educational side of the industry. In regard to the marketing of products he eulogised the work that was being done all over the Dominion by the various Egg Circles. In this connection he showed that instead of being a combination for forcing up the prices of eggs—as was commonly believed —Egg Circles were primarily for the purpose of placing on the market a good, clean, and thoroughly reliable article at a fair return to the producer. He referred to the New Zealand Poultry Association, which was the only mouthpiece of the industry to which' the Government would listen, and urged for that reason every poultry organisation should affiliate with that body. In dealing with the matter of development of egg production, Mr. Jarrett admitted that the various competitions held to foster this phase of the industry had resulted in much good. He said that was naturally the" end to which most producers looked, and rightly so. He himself was not much concerned with the table trade, which in the main would take care of itself. In the matter of bliows, and the apparent conflict between show breeders and utility breeders, Mr. Jarrett said the chief difference between them was in regard to the standards recognised.' He urged breeding to a particular standard, and stated that conditions were now being imposed which precluded birds which did not come up to a recognised standard from being entered in competitions. The speaker dealt with the question of selection, ami detailed the characteristics required in the good laying bird. He also stressed the necessity for severe culling. He stated that he popiu..- idea that'any bird was good for two seasons was not correct. A bird was only good so long as it maintained a good strong constitution. .Directly a bird showed signs of a weakening constitution it should be culled, as a satisfactory egg return could not be obtained from a weak bird. Mr. Jarrett had several specimen birds, by means of which, at this sta«e he demonstrated some of the points he had been impressing in the course of hi* address. The period of hatching, continued Mr. Jarrett, for a district like Taranaki would be approximately the middle of September for heavy breeds and carlv in October for light broods. He was a strong advocate of hatching all the season's chicks in one lot—with the exception of the distinction between heavy and light breeds. Good housing was essential, and if eggs were required in the winter period conditions as near approximating those of summer were essential. In feeding, while advocating the wet mash for the morning meal, he preferred the meat meal fed to the birds in such a way that they could help themselves and regulate their own u „. petites, rather than including it in the mash. Plenty of green feed'was necessary, and wheat was probablv the best egg-producing grain food, though for growing pullets good stout oats made an excellent diet. A guod supply should be fed to the birds, giving them always as much as they would eat up cleanly and without waste. It was a mistake t'n cut down the ration on account of the cos of food. At the conclusion of the address Mr Jarrett was warmly applauded. Ho answered a number of questions put Ik several of those present. A vote of thanks to the speaker concluded the proceedings.