White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1933-11-02
Kill, Dress Birds
AtTurkey Meeting
By County Agent E. @. Durdle

A total of f1fty-eight people ATTENDED,
the turkey dressing demonstration held
at Kennewick Valley Grange this Mon-
day. Probably three-fourths OF these
we're growers of turkeys from the Ken
newick, Richland, Benton City and
White Bluffs communities, the larger
number coming from in and around
Kennewick including the territory to
Hover.
E. @. Durdle, county agent, in start
ing off the program, emphasized the
need of selection of breeders before
any stock is sold, and the Importance
of selection of the right type OF breeder
in order to improve the flock from year
to wear. Mr.. Mitchell little later en-
phasized this same point by saying that
he had been able to reduce defective
breast bones very materially by the
selection Of birds free of such defects.
| A check on the grades of turkeys
raised by the Washington Coop from
different points in the valley, showed
that KenneWick had produced birds
which graded 1928 prime, including all
pools with the exception Of the Alaska
pool. which is minor one. The Ken
newick area leads all other communities
in this respect. Mr.. Mitchell later,
however, pointed out that the COM
munity has possibilities of going quite
a little further in that shipments last
wear showed about IS per cent prime
birds. OF course it is not expected that
a community could reach the high level
i of an individual but it does show that
there are some possibilities.
Mr.. Kelly, manager of the Sunnyside
branch of the Washington Coop, and
later Ray Darling, manager of the va
kima plant and supervisor OF other
plants in the territory, emphasized the
fact that the washington Coop av-
eraged considerable above other pools
of the Northwest in prices received tol
: turkeys Mr.. Darling particularly en-
phasifed the fact that more turkeys
marketed through the Coop should
: mean still better prices for the grower
The figures given by the county agen
rather upset criticism that grading
: the Coop may have been too close
r. D. Mitchell of Yakima also dis
). cussed various breeding problems A
e the beginning of the afternoon session
q he covered very thoroughly the variou
e steps in selection of birds to be dresse
i out for those to be observed in tn
a cleaning and dressing He emphasize
d the need of careful selection OF bird
n so as to have only prime birds goln
% onto the market which would do niue
# toward improving the market situation
Mr.. Mitchell and Mr.. Doust the
n conducted a demonstration on the val
n ious phases of killing and dressing
le using the dry pick method and tf
n semi-scalding method. D. B. Leonar
Is agricultural agent with the P. P. q |
" was present with a semi-scalder Whlc
they had built last year and whit
er maintained the water at the prop
ei temperature SO that birds can be MAJ
10 to look well after being dressed. Draw
IN ings and directions on the use OF II
ne semi-scalder were handed out to tho
is interested. This method of dressing al
~. peals very much to most growers b
es the expense of the equipment is Il
one drawback It would seem to us tn
two or three neighbors might get t
gether in the purchase of this equi
ment and put up with some inconve
in fence until such time as each one Won
h. be in position to purchase his on
he equipment. Pinning is certainly
an easier problem after semi-scaldi
.st than under dry picking conditions
"a Sufficient time was given SO tn
,er anyone interested in details could
100 these from directions given by n
Mitchell and Mr.. Doust.