358 Journal of Agriculture. [8 June, 1907. 



DOOKIE EGG-LAYINCI COMPETITION, 1906-7. 



H . Pyc, Principal Dookie Agricultural College. 



In common with the other laving competitions held in the different 

 States, the above has demonstrated that by care and attention to breeding 

 and feeding, the production of eggs for the market can be made a pro- 

 fitable business, and that a comfortable living can be made from poultry- 

 farming, provided that a business spirit pervades in conjunction with a 

 thorough practical knowledge of the work to be done. As a business in 

 itself, poultry-farming is only successful when carried out by persons of 

 special ability and aptitude for the work. As an adjunct to the farm, the 

 extent of its profitableness is determined by similar conditions, also market 

 facilities and the cheapness of the food, though pollard and bran may now 

 be got reasonablv in most parts of the State, whilst wheat or maize is as 

 a rule grown on most farms. 



It is evident that the White Leghorn breed of fowds has inherent in 

 it great laying qualities, yet by observation it is noticeable that some pens 

 cf the breed do not gi\e much encouragement. M\ impressions as regards 

 the White Leghorns seem to indicate that the old type of birds is the more 

 prolific. By the old type, I mean the medium-sized businesslike bird, 

 which has no game blood in it. as seems to be noticeable in some of the 

 present-day English show birds. The small American tvpe bird also has 

 good laying qualities, but as a rule the eggs are of a small or medium size. 

 The advantages of earlv hatching, judgment in mating, and regular and 

 I)]oper feeding ha\e l>een drawn attention to bv most writers on poultry. 

 It sometimes happens that healthy birds of a good laying strain do not do 

 justice to themsehes owing to the different climatic conditions and feeding 

 fostering too frequent moulting, and this happened in several instances in 

 this competition, as a number of the birds are through their second moult 

 and in full profit just as they are leaving, hence the advantage of a two 

 years' test, especiallv so as it is generallv recognised that about two seasons 

 is the economic period of a laying hen's life. The competitions have 

 demonstrated that strains of breeds, and not altogether breeds tliemsehes, 

 stand out paramount for laving qualities, and this in a measure is to be 

 expected. It is well for the poultrv farmer, perhaps, that such is the case. 

 It gives interest in the hobby or business, and enables him to work out the 

 ideal profitable bird of his fancy breed. In a measure the competition.s 

 have demonstrated that the White Leghoi'ns held their own very well as 

 winter layers, provided that thev are bred to time and under healthy 

 conditions. Both of these conditions apply to the heavier breeds, which are 

 generally recognised as the better winter lavers. 



The prizes awarded have been, firstlv, for the number of marketable 

 eggs, in order to impress the necessity of prolificness ; secondly, for the 

 greatest weight of eggs, in order to bring under notice the advisability of 

 developing both size and prolificness of eggs; thirdly, the " winter test,'' 

 in order to ha\'e fresh eggs when the market is thin and prices are good ; 

 ond, fourthlv, prizes for the highest market value of the eggs for the year. 

 The last-mentioned prizes need not necessarilv be w'on by the pen laying 

 the highest total of eggs, as the bulk of the eggs may have been laid when 

 eggs were chea]>. The prizes given for the heaviest weight of eggs were 

 awarded in order to foster both weight and prolificness, as alread\- men- 

 tioned. To' gi\"e prizes for the pen laying the heaviest eggs only would 

 not be conduci\'e to practical gfXDd. The result of the experiment in export- 

 ing to England 200 dozen eggs from the competition pens demonstrated 

 that size was an important factor in both brown and white eggs, and that 



