The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1920-01-03

| prepared by the United States Depart
| ment of Agriculturep
In marketing poultry and eggs there
is an enormous preventable loss In
quality and value between the produc
er and the consumer. This waste has
| been conservatively estimated to ag
gregate $120,00O,O0O year.
The producers loss caused by de-
creased prices, is largely due to spoil
consumers loss comes from the added
overhead expenses of the poultry in
dustry, from the handling Of inferior
products, or from the expenses attend
ing spoiage and deterioration. These
factors are important in making liv-
ing expenses higher and in forcing the
"all-you- can eat-for-a-Quarter" lunch
farther away than ever from the pub
lie.
The logical method of controlling
leaks and losses in the egg-marketing
end of the poultry business, according
to specialists, is to induce producers
TO market only large, clean, fresh eggs
on the quality basis. BY paying a
premium for the production of SUI
perior products the intermediate ham
der increases the profits and minim-
ICES the losses all along the line
from the farmer to the consumer. 1t
costs the farmer more to produce
large, clean, fresh eggs than it does
to market small, dirty, rotten, inferior
products and unless the price is suffi-
Gent to induce him to extra exertion,
he will not bother to better the quality.
Sell Eggs on Grade Basis.
Some produce dealers claim that 1t
is impossible for them to buy eggs on
a graded quality basis because their
competitors pay a fiat rate. Neverthe-
less, many firms throughout the coun-
try are buying on the quality basis and
realizing profit thereby. Such opera
lions necessitated that the dealers
know how to handle and grade the
eggs so as to buy judiciously and they
must make an effort TO show the peo-
pie from whom they buy what the diff
ferent standards and grades are.
Whenever and wherever this quality
method of buying has been pursued,
invariably the quality and quantity of
eggs produced have rapidly improved
and increased Similarly in the case
of poultry. different kinds and
weights bring different prices. AS a
rule mature fowls weighing over four
pounds are worth more pound
dressed than birds under this weight.
Therefore, some dealers pay
premium price for the larger fowl. 1t
Is only fair to the producer that If the
produce dealer sells produce on a
grade basis, he should also buy on a
grade basis.
One of the best opportunities where
by the produce dealer may increase
the quality of poultry and eggs in his
vicinity is by offering prizes and ar
ranging for demonstrations at poultry
shows. One firm In Iowa, DESTROYS of
large fowls for sale in Eastern mar
kets, offered at local shows prizes of
So each for the best pullet pens, con-
of one cockerel and four pull
lets Of the most popular variety of
Plymouth Rocks, Wyandottes, Rhode
Island Reds and Orpingtons. In five
years the production of pure-bred |
birds of these breeds increased enor- |
and the farmers were able to |
pack much better grade of poultry |
than their competitors, and they re- !
ceived higher prices. Other firms, by |
offering prizes on eggs, have increased |
the quantity of pure-bred poultry kept |
and the number of eggs produced.
Give Producers Pure-Bred Sires.
Some dealers have distributed pure
bred males among the farmers who |
sell products to Them in order to grade
40 the farm f1ocks. This method i'm
proved the flock from the scrub va
.iety TO the grade status. An entire
substitution of pure blood for scrubs
an be accomplished by Matching eggs
rom pure-bred stock. Pure-brej
breeding pens, consisting of females
md one male, cost more than the av-
.rage dealer can afford for general dis
ributfon. However, it will pay him
% furnish few farmers In each local
ty with such fiocks, on the condition
hat the stocks shall be kept pure and
he eggs laid during the breeding sea-
on shall be available for wide distri-
'ution at approximately market prices.
f the dealer furnishes the farmer with
me or more settings from a pure-bred
lock, with the understanding that the
hickens are to be raised in increas-
ng numbers from this pure-bred stock.
It the end of three years the flock
hould consist entirely of pure-bred
owls. Such an improvement in the