POULTRY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 265, 6 October 1933, Page 10

POULTRY.

EGG-LAYING MASSEY COLLEGE CONTEST. The following arc the results in the twenty-sixth week of the Massey College egg-laying contest: —

, TEAM RESULTS. M. L. Boyco 94 134 156 x 81 127 121 (33) 713 Mrs Hellaby 52 96 122 66 98 141 (34) 575 Larsen Bros. 97x 83x 106 82x 86x 99 (39) 553 Mrs Warren 66 65x 96x -105 78 51 (38) 461 Mrs Scarrott 62 53 58x 79 45d 75 (30) 372 Sect.on C. P. B. Harrison, W.L. 133 x 122 141 113 112 94 (38) 715 F. S. Allen, W.L. 124 102 x 136 135 67d 146 x (29) 710. Mrs G. Hillman, W.L. 105 111 104 116 x 116 13lx (35) 683 H. A. Lucas, W.L. 124 104 129 124 52 91 (26) 624 E. B. Wainscott, W.L. ’ 105 x 123 124 86,60 d 115 (25) 613 F. T. W.L. 75 io6 [w) Mis Hellaby, lgg 138 x 37d ( 2 7) 578 Miss Mitchell, W.U iq2 68 g? {35) j. T. Ha ri lwO g od, 7 W.L. i2ix iqs A . G. Mumby.AV.L. 88 A. Stra,wbridge, i W.L. 45d . S ' D ' 101 43d 113 (22) 456 W. G. Krnft 63x gg 75 (27) 3g6 G. E. Mannin g , 6 W 4 .L. 86 W. F. Stent, “x” . Disqualified, egg .weight clause. “d” Bird dead, NOTES. (By “Brooder.”) Noting that Mr J. A. Nash, M.P., as chairman of directors, had reported to a recent meeting of shareholders of the Farmers’ Dairy Union, Palmerston North, that a recent shipment of butter, packed under vacuum process, had been a complete success, the New Zealand Poultry Association is instituting enquiries with a view to the process being used in the export of eggs later on. The association was impressed by Mr Nash’s assertion that, under the system, eggs and poultry also could be landed in London as fresh as on the day they were shipped. Cabled information as to the outlook on the egg market at Home is somewhat contradictory. A recent cable stated that though most of the other Australian produce was sure to benefit from the upward trend in prices the chances for eggs were not so good. Yet, on prices last year, the first shipments have realised as much as 2s to 3s in excess. This confirms the reports per cable some time ago that, because of the exceedingly dry summer, eggs were scarce. However, good or had as may he the prospects, all available shipping space has been taken and export goes on apace to present a serious glut from now until Christmas. With eggs being retailed at lOd per dozen, which in all probability means 8d per dozen to the producer, supporters of exports in Auckland do not take very much risk i.n sending forward their eggs to the grading centres. An advance of 7d per dozen is being paid on all eggs packed, and there is every likelihood that a bonus will be forthcoming at the end of the season. Without export it is more than probable that sales would realise much less than 7d, it is thought. Poultry men are still hoping for that infallible guide to enable male chickens to he eliminated immediately on leaving the incubator, but so far in New Zealand there seems to-be no absolutely sure way of discerning them. From America come stories of liow it can be done. The Japanese, we are also told, are past masters a.t the game. It is quite a common achievement for practised men in Japan to segregate male chickens at the rate of 10,000 per day,

with accuracy and with ease. So far, however, there is no certain system known here and thousands of unwanted male chickens are housed and fed for at least a month, or for a longer period according to the skill of the owners to cull out these undesirable birds.

It is now generally admitted that where chicks are fed on poor duality foods, or foods which have not in them those constituents for promoting health and development, it is extremely difficult to separate the sexes until much older than they would have been had they been properly treated. The practised eye, at one month, can discern to what sex any chick belongs, even though there is no development in comb, wattle or any of the common indications for which the novice looks. The beginner, however, is guided solely by head points, and if his chicks are ill-nourished his difficulty is intensified. Here, then, is another argument in favour of good feeding. Too many cockerels fed are a drain on resources. It is surely better to feed the whole for one month well than to feed for two months on a ration, perhaps only a fraction less in cost. On the one hand we have pullets well developed and cockerels culled out in one month as against both pullets and cockerels ill-nourished and not separated at 6 weeks to two months old. It is certain that the argument is all in favour of a well balanced ration and plenty of it right from the start.

SINGLE PENS. Section B. Mrs Dimaut, B.O ... — (7) 107 T.. Douthwaitc, B.O ... i (4) 128 2 (7) 148 A. G. Frankham, B.O. ... (b) 93x Mrs Ilcllabjr, B.O ... 1 lb) 105 2 (6) 105 Larsen Bros., B.O ... 1 <b) 156 2 (0) 46d 3 (b) 130 Mrs Scarrott, B.O ... 1 (7) 113 2 (4) 138 Mrs Waddell, B.O .. 1 (7) 137x 2 (5) 125x W. E. Watson, B.O ... —r(b) 123 Mrs Davey, L.S ... 17) 88 x Mrs Yonngson, Bk. W. .. (0) 78x" K. Mouldcy, R.I.R. ... lb) 111 Section A. Chas. Barker, W.L ... 1 (4) 128 2 lb) box A. Strawbridgc, W.L. ... ... 1 (b) 82 Mrs CJaimon, W.L ... 0) l4l - G. H. Gross, W.L ... lb) 80 E. M. Galvin, W.L .. 1 (b) lolx 2 (b) 141x 3 (b) 62 J. T. Hazelwood, W.L. ... 1 Ibi 136 2(4) 122 Mrs Hcllaby, W.L ... (7) 144 Mrs Dimant, W.L. ... (5) 78 J. Ibbotson, W.L ... (5) 111 W. J. McAloon, W.L. ... ... (7) 110 D. Xvruse, Anc ... 1 lb) 117 2 (31 lllx Miss Mitchell, W.L ... (b) 156 A. G. Mumby, W.L ... 1 (b) 132 2 (6) 119 Mrs Stewart, W.L ... 1 (6) 121 2 (4) 143 A. Strawbridg-e, ' W.L. ... ... 2 (b) 109 3 (6) 72 W. H. Barker, W.L. ... .. 1 (b) 92 2 lb) 103x 3 (6) 91 J. Smith, Anc .. 1 (b) 92 2 (b) 62 W. E. Stent, Min .. 1 (b) 58 2 (7) 64 A. R. Watson, Br. L. .. 1 (b) 116 2 (b) 79x Mrs Youngson, Bk. L. . .... — lb) 96