10 June, 1919.] Egg-laying Competitions, 1918-19_ 341 



REPORT ON THE EIGHTH VIUTORIAN EGGLAYING 

 COMPETITIONS, 11)18-]!). 



Conducted at the Burnley School of Primary Agriculture, by the 

 Department of Agriculture, Victoria. 



A. Hart, CJiief Poultry Expert. 



Although no records were acliieved in any of the egg-laying competi- 

 tions for 1918-19, which concluded on the 31st March last, the average 

 results obtained from the whole of the competing birds in both the indi- 

 vidual and the team tests were very satisfactory. Of course, the estab- 

 lishment of records is of great interest, and the rearing of a 300-egg 

 hen something to be desired. Yet, after all, it is the aggregate produce 

 of the whole of the competing birds that indicates improvement in the 

 quality of the flocks of the community, and the egg-production in the 

 competition just closed indicates this. 



The popularity of the tests is shown by the large number of entries, 

 and this year many breeders were disappointed at not being included in 

 the list of successful nominators. 



Tests and Results. 



The eighty-two white leghorns in the single test laid an average of 

 208 eggs each, and the thirty-nine black orpingtons an average of 204. 

 The wisdom of breeding from such birds needs no emphasizing. As an 

 instance of the commercial value of birds that have " made good," it 

 may be mentioned that £25 was offered and refused for a black orping- 

 ton placed first in one of the competitions. In the individual dry-mash test 

 for leghorns, Mr. Jack Eyan's bird laid the fine total of 306 eggs during 

 the twelve months. This bird is of good type, nice size, and, considering 

 her performance, was in good condition at the conclusion of the competi- 

 tions. In the wet-mash single test for leghorns, Mr. McDonnell was 

 successful with a hen of good body formation, rather tall, but, being 

 out of feather at the conclusion of the test, it was difficult to judge her 

 type. Her record was 285 eggs, a total that would undoubtedly have been 

 increased but for her being well into moult before the end of the com- 

 petitions. 



In the single test for orpingtons (wet mash) Mr. P. "Walker's winning 

 bird was a good type that stood out for all-round quality. She laid 

 294 eggs. 



The competitors in the leghorn teams test (wet mash) were a uniform 

 lot, showing good quality. They laid well through the period of the com- 

 petitions, and the number of eggs laid by the winning pen, owned by Mr. 

 G. Pocknall, was 1,511. In the dry-mash test for leghorns, Mr. W. H. 

 Eobbin's winning team laid 1,553 eggs. While this team was undoubtedly 

 composed of good layers, I would have liked them a shade larger. 



The black orpingtons placed first in the wet-mash section were from 

 Hall's Egg Farm. They laid 1,306 eggs, and were birds of good all- 

 round quality. Two pens in the dry-mash section for orpingtons — those 

 of Mr. T. L. Eastaugh and the Marville Poultry Farm — tied for first 

 place with a score of 1,285 eggs. They were birds of good type and size. 



