Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-03-25
POULTRY BEST
MONEY MAKER,
EXPERT
Industry Can Prosper
In Valley, Meeting
At San Juan Told By
j. c. Dykes


SAN JUAN. March z4.-"Poultry is
the largest single farm industry in
the United States, and more money
ID made from poultry than from any
other single farm enterprise. de-
clared j. G. Dykes, agricultural IN
structor in the McAllen schools, adj
dressing a meeting Of the Rio Grande
Valley Egg association Of San juan
Discussing the poultry situation
especially as ia affect the Rio
Grande Valley. Dykes said, the
situation for the poultry industry
looks much more favorable for 1928
than that Of the past year; although
the price Of eggs will perhaps not he
any higher. Some encouragement Is
held out that feed will be lower IN
the fall months. at the time when
EGGS arc likely TO be at their highest
lsvel.~
Commenting on the good as well
~ the bad sides OF the poultry stu
alton in the Valley. Dykes said, ''the
bad sides that need correcting are
elimination Of boarder hens; more
products should be raised az home
and less buying OF feed; housing OF
chickens Is very poor. Diseases IN
its various forms are due 10 incor-
rect housing. The insect pest with
which we arc especially blessed
needs correcting. On the good side
of the situation we have a favorable
climatic condition, with mild win
tiers and light rainfall. The cost Of
~wintering a hen in the Valley is
about 81. compared 10 SO to $3.50
in the colder climate Of the north.
This amount is not chargeable to the
hen, but e the housing cost
which can be distributed over a pc
riod Of ten or more years. The win
terinR of one individual hen will not
exceed 10 cents"
Ned Green Feeds
More green feeds should BE fed
the chickens. said Dykes, such as
cabbage, beets and other green feed
stuffs which are raised in the Valley.
Grain sorghum can be raised with a
reasonable degree Of profit, allowing
TOT certain losses BY the birds.
The Lower Rio Grande Valley
comes nearer giving the Leghorns
the same climatic condition for
which they were originated. the place
being at a point near the Mediter-
ranean sea The Valley
favorably with that Of the most
southern tip OF Florida" said DYKES.
ne set forth the paramount adj
Santages q an association in the
nandiing q poultry products. In a
cooperative unit the products can BE-
advertised alta minimum cost 10 the
producers. where individually the
cost would he prohibitive.
Dykes stated hat the erg produc-
ton IN the Valley IL not ecual 70 the
consumption, especially during the
months Of February to July, a period
~ which cold storage sggs are being
shipped here in considerable q~uanti-
Citing the comparative value ~
protein IN eggs with other food nro-
ducts, Dykes said. lone pound Of eqva
are equal 70 three pounds Of beef.
pork or mutton" Discussinv 80
feasibility Of shipping eggs 70 the
market centers. he said tha en~t M
expressing a case Of eggs. So dozen
10 san Antonio is g. cents. which
means about 2 cents a dozen. How
ever, expressing of eggs at this sea-
son would not be feasible. he stated
Pointlng 70 Mexico as a possible
market Tor eggs, Dykes said that dur-
ing the past year 200 carloads OF
eggs passed through Laredo FAR
points IN Mexico. People in Tam
plco, Mexico. are willing to paw 81
Tor a dozen eggs. If they can find
nine good ones out Of q DOZEN ~
:"
Discussing the ~desirabilitv of
adopting the White Leghorn breed
LOT the Valley. Dykes said that Will
mere are other good poultry breeds
t1e Tact that these are especialIv
adapted to the Valley climate maLes
tnsm the breed TO be preferred. An
o.tner advantage Of one snec;f;e
pred - the production az eyes az I
uniform color which makes for bat-
ter appearance in the markets ana
nenes, bring the fancy price.
Al the close Of the meeting ~.
nemes Of members who viii har. -
FERTILE eggs for the market IN ths
nesr future. were taken BY the sec
Ieeary' The association plan~ to
De&in the shipping Of eggs al soor
can DC pro-
Much interest was manifested hr
nose present and several from no;rfs
outside Of San Juan's Immediate te--
Iltory signed up for membership N
ne association here.