Legislative _Assembly

Now the poultry business, the number of farm calls in the poultry division continues to increase each year. Changes in the industry continue to be made and each year sees fewer small flocks kept on Island farms and a continued increase in the number of specialized opertions.

Approved Flock Inspections are made on a regular basis and assistance and advice is given on flock management, egg care as well as sanitation problems.

The general health of the poultry flocks was good. Entries at all fairs con- tinue reasonably good. At the Atlantic Winter Fair most entries either led or stood in high standing in their classes. Seven egg entries were sent to the Canadian Na- tional Exhibition this year from three exhibitors.

Out of a total of 21 flocks tested and approved during the year, six were for broiler egg production. 328,000 chicks were batched in registered hatcheries dur- ing the year, a 4.5% increase over 1966.

59,648 cases of eggs were marketed through registered grading stations with an average price of 37 cents for Grade A Large eggs to the producer. Thirty-seven registered egg grading stations were in operation on Prince Edward Island in 1967.

Once again this year, a poultry promotional booth was staffed in the Coliseum at the Provincial Exhibition.

Leo F. Rossiter: Mr. Speaker, would you permit a question? That wasn’t the calf that was presented by the Conservative Party out there was it, at the Provincial Exhibition?

Hon. Daniel J. MacDonald: It happened to be poultry I was talking about, sir. (Laughter) There’s wings on these things, they are different from cattle.

Hon. Alexander B. Campbell: No wings on a Tory calf! Hon. Daniel J. MacDonald: No wings on a Tory calf.

Walter R. Shaw: There are no wings on anything on the opposite side, I can tell you that!

Leo F. Rossiter: Angel wings.

Hon. Daniel J. MacDonald: Many meetings were attended during the year and trans- portation provided our hatcherymen to regular Atlantic Provinces Hatchery Meet- ings, usually in Amherst, Nova Scotia.

Walter R. Shaw: Pardon me, Mr. Speaker, I wonder if I could ask you a question?

Hon. Daniel J. MacDonald: Yes Sir.

Walter R. Shaw: Do you think there is any future and opportunity in this country at present egg prices and poultry prices for the small farm flock? After all, the poultry population is steadily going down year after year, and the large flocks of perhaps 100, or two or three hundred thousand hens, such that small flock has very little chance, has it?

Hon. Daniel J. MacDonald: Giving you an honest answer, Mr. Speaker, I don’t think there is any money to be made in a small flock, but I do think any individual that is operating a farm and has a small flock that it certainly can be quite beneficial to him, beneficial to the area he is living in, and I think he can make a few cents.

Walter R. Shaw: There is no assistance given the poultry producer who builds a large plant, they can do that on a small farm, you see. Is there any form of assis- tance there.

Hon. Daniel J. MacDonald: In the construction of buildings? Walter R. Shaw: Yes, the construction of buildings and starting out on the program.

Hon. Daniel J. MacDonald: No Sir, there is not. No, those that are in it in a large way, I think they are doing quite good in some of these hatcheries and so on; they are making a very good living.

—188———