Notes. 707 



Egg-laying Competition, Cedara. 



The Third Egg-laying' Competition commenced on the 1st June, 

 1019, and terminated on the 30th November, 1919, a period of 183 

 days. The accommodation available was the .same as in the two 

 l)revions competitions, viz., 120 single pens. A full description of 

 the houses, runs, etc., is given in Bulletin Local Series No. TO, pub- 

 lished by the Department of Agriculture. 



Twenty competitors made entries of 24 pens, each pen containing 

 5 birds. Of these pens, 17 were from Natal bi-eeders, 3 from the 

 Transvaal, 3 from the Orange Free State, and 1 from the Cape Pro- 

 vince. Of the 24 entries, 15 pens were Utility White Leghorns, G 

 White Wyandottes, and one each of the following- breeds : White 

 Orpington, Brown Leghorn, and Black Leghorn. 



As in the previous competition, only 2-oz. eggs were counted from 

 the commencement. The majority of birds were not much handi- 

 capped on this account, as the competition did not begin until June. 

 The weather during the six mouths under review was not ideal for 

 egg production, being for the greater part very dry, and consequently 

 a large percentage of underweight eggs were laid. 



The quality of the green food obtained was naturally- not of the 

 best owing* to the drought, and this, no doubt, was adverse to heavy 

 egg production. 



Utility White Leghorns occupied the eight leading places at the 

 termination of the competition, and, on the whole, the White 

 Wyandottes did badly, chiefly owing to underweight eggs. 



The silver and bronze medals presented by the South African 

 Poultry Association for the pens laying* the greatest number of 

 standard-weight eggs during the competition were won by Pens Nos. 

 12 and 5 (both Utility White Leghorns), the property of Mr. J. C. 

 Randies, Otto's Bluff, Natal, and Mr. R. Porritt, Pietermaritzburg, 

 Natal, respectively. 



Pen No. 12 laid 530 full-weight eggs and 13 underweights, and 

 Pen No. 5, 511 full-weight eggs and 28 underweights in the period 

 of 183 days. The best individual record was made by hen No. 21. 

 Pen No. 5, with 123 full-weight eggs, no underweights, the property 

 of Mr. R. Porritt, Pietermaritzburg, Natal. 



The total egg yield for the six months was 11,400, which includes 

 1811 eggs under 2 oz. but over If oz. This gives an average of 

 95 eggs per bird. The value of the eggs laid during* the competition 

 was £96. 5s. ll^d. 



The cost of feeding during* the competition amounted to 

 £44. 8s. Tid., which, deducted from the value of eggs laid, gives a 

 profit over cost of feeding of £51. 17s. 3:fd., or, approximately, 8s. 8d. 

 on each bird. 



As in the previous competitions, wet mash was fed in the morn- 

 ing, g*reen food at noon, and grain in the afternoon. All grain was 

 fed in scratching litter in order to make the birds exercise themselves 

 and keep them occupied. The average amount of mash consumed 

 per bird during the competition was 2.52 oz. per diem, and of grain 

 2.41 oz. ; this does not include green food at noon, or grit, oyster- 

 shell, and charcoal. 



Eight deaths occurred, four being indirectly due to ovarian 

 trouble. 



