1921.1 Revival of Sussex Table Poultry Industry. 



939 



occupiers (working together under some simple form of 

 co-operation favourably situated as regards the availability of 

 supplies of suitable feeding stuffs, and having easy and relatively 

 cheap access to remunerative markets. Whatever course may 

 be followed, however, the relative economy of the various 

 possible methods of producing table poultry would need to 

 be determined by practical tests undertaken by a competent 

 authority. 



Need for Feeding Tests. — Conditions have changed so 

 materially since the War, and values are now so different, 

 that any attempts to encourage the revival or extension of such 

 an industry should be guided by the availability of further 

 and more accurate knowledge respecting the relative economy 

 of the different methods of dealing with chickens for the' 

 table intended for market. The methods of rearing generally 

 followed in the industry are: — 



1. Killing the birds off the run when in suitable condition. 



2. Subjecting them to a period (say three weeks) of special 

 feeding before killing, in the confinement of a small run. 



3. Cooping them for ten days or a fortnight and feeding on 

 fattenino" food mixtures oiven in trouo-hs. 



4. Trough feeding, followed by a further period of machine 

 cramming — the full process of the pre-war Sussex 

 industry. 



This test should preferably be carried out in the home of 

 the industry and under the conditions that prevail there, and 

 the breeds or varieties best suited to the different methods 

 should be indicated.* 



Until the light of actual accurate experiment, under present- 

 day conditions, is thrown upon this subject in its several 

 aspects, no very satisfactory solution of the problems that 

 confront those previously or now engaged in the industry can 

 be suggested, while the more inexperienced and prospective 

 producers are hopelessly bewildered by the existing lack of 

 reliable information. 



* A test on very similar lines has now been arranged by the Agricultural 

 Education Committee of the East Sussex County Council, with the approval 

 and support of the Ministry. 



