MONEY IN POULTRY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9053, 31 March 1908, Page 3

MONEY IN POULTRY.

VALUE TO NEW ZEALAND. INTERESTING FIGURES. Mr T.F. Leihy, of the Government Poultry Depot, furnished an Auckr land "Herald" reporter -frith some figures regarding the worth of the poultry industry to the dominion, based on calculations of his own, which seem to represent the position very fairly. Mr Leihy's estimate is compiled from the figures of the census in 1906, and is as follows: Turkeys: The total number of birds is given at 77,101, and a reduction of 40 per cent, for males and non-layers reduces this to 46,261. These are estimated to produce 277,566 birds, the value of which would be £69,391. Geese: It is calculated on the.seme basis that there are 26,580 profitable geese, who would produce 265,8u0 | birds, valued at £33,225. |

Ducks: The estimated number of laying ducks is 169,200, and these are computed to produce 1,353,600 birds and 789,600 dozen eggs in the year, the values being £133,360 and £32,900 respectively.

Fowls: Fowls are calculated to represent 1,670,562 layers, out of a total of 2,784,269 birds, and these it is estimated would be responsible for 13,364,496 birds (£1,336,449) and 7,995,956 eggs (£333,164). Accordingly, the expert is of the opinion that the value of the industry to the dominion for one year is £1,940,490.

The number of layers is calculated by taking 40 per cent, from the total number of birds for males and nonlayers. For product in the case of turkeys six reared birds are allowed each layer, geese are allowed 10, and ducks and fowls are allowed 80 eggs 30 per cent, of which are used for incubating.- Of this number it is estimated that 33s per cent, are hatched and reared.

The status of the poultry industry itaay be gauged from the that the value set'by the"census enumerator for meat-freezing and preserving works in 1905 was £5,182,482.