The Northern Ireland Ministry of Agriculture had issued the results of the egg-laying test (pullets) from 5th October 1935 to 15th May 1936.

The News Letter noted: “It will be remembered that 152 pens, of six pullets each, are competing. During the period under review (says the report) there was a slight decrease in egg production, which was mainly, due to an increase in broodiness.”

The average taken on the basis of all birds originally penned was 18.3 eggs per bird, as compared with 19.9 for the previous period.

The average egg production of the birds alive at the end of the period was 19.3 eggs per bird.

Pictured in May 2016 at an IFA seminar on successful suckling at the Donegal Town Livestock Mart. Picture: Clive Wasson

placeholder image — Pictured in May 2016 at an IFA seminar on successful suckling at the Donegal Town Livestock Mart. Picture: Clive Wasson

The highest average for the period under review was again to the credit of the Rhode Island Reds in section 3, namely 20.9 eggs per bird; the Rhode Island Reds in section 5 (c) being next with an average of 19.6 eggs per bird.

It was noted that eight birds had died during the period, “bringing the total number of deaths to the end of the eighth period to 60”.

“This represents a mortality rate of 5.48 per cent,” noted the News Letter.

The following were the names of the owners of pens and the number of super-grade eggs (with the number of first grade eggs in brackets) laid by each pen. The two numbers added together give the score value.

Leo O'Malley, William Monagle and Henry Burns at an IFA seminar on successful suckling at the Donegal Town Livestock Mart in May 2016. Picture: Clive Wasson

Section 1 - White Wyandottes (30 Pens) Mrs H G Darley, Trory, Ballinamallard, 462 super-grade eggs (393 first-grade); Mr J Hall, Lilac Cottage, Donacloney, 714 (117); Lieutenant-Colonel J P Galbraith, Clanabogan, Omagh, 325 (501); Mrs J R Jackson, Fortview, Coleraine, 619 (189); Mr G N Robson, Ballyhamage, Doagh, 518 (270); Mr T Foote, Broughmore, Maze, Lisburn, 514 (252); Mr R Toberton, Holborn Hall, Plantation, Lisburn, 416 (349); Mrs J R Jackson, Fortview, Coleraine, 295 (468) (1 dead); Mrs E Johnston, Craigboy, Donaghadee, 368 (386); Mrs D C Gamble, Roan Lodge, Coalisland, 311 (431); Mrs H E Stevenson, Dreemore, Dungannon, 347 (375); Mrs D C Gamble, Roan Lodge, Coalisland, 436 (279) (1 dead); Mr G McCormick, Brookend House, Stewartstown, 486 (227); Villa Colony Poultry Farm, Purdysburn, Belfast, 345 (362); Mrs H E Stevenson, Dreemore, Dungannon, 541 (155); Mr H L Watson, Mount Nebo, Gilnahirk, Belfast, 316 (372); Mr J L Savage, Backaderry House, Banbridge, 318 (358) (1 dead); Mr F W Pelan, Sycamore Hill, Tullynacross, Lambeg, 402 (255) (2 dead); Mrs J Warnock, Tower View, Rathgael, Bangor, 306 (319); Mrs M Barnett, Ballagh, Clogher, Co Tyrone, 362 (257); Mrs E Johnston, Craigboy, Donaghadee, 509 (85) (1 dead); Mr J C Stewart, Balloo, Killinchy, 149 (434); Greenmount Agricultural and Horticultural College, Muckamore, 372 (171) (1 dead); Lieutenant-Colonel J P Galbraith, Clanabogan, Omagh, 450 (85) (1 dead); Mrs H M Fletcher, Ashgrove, Lisadian, Hillsborough, 250 (249); Miss M Finlay, Glencairn, Clandeboye, 241 (234); Mrs J Warnock, Tower View, Rathgael, Bangor, 337 (136) ; Mrs A Peel, Oakleigh, Roses Lane Ends, 186 (210) (2 dead); Mrs A Peel, Oakleigh, Roses Lane Ends, 206 (179) (3 dead); and Mr J Stuart, Killyflue, Ballymena, 194 (145) (4 dead).

Section 3 - Rhode Island Reds (38 pens) Miss R L Sinclair, Ballybirnie, Holy Hill, Strabane, 494 super-grade eggs, (371 first grade); Mrs E R Dunwoody, Benmore, Islandmagee, 599 (234); Mrs J McNeill, The Poultry Farm, Drain's Bay, Larne, 588 (233); Mrs D Patterson, Ballycastle Road, Coleraine, 437 (379); Mr M Scott, Crumlin, Co Antrim, 302 (512); Mrs R A Abernethy, Cherry Hill, Stewartstown, 525 (283); Miss J A Irwin, Mount Irwin, Tynan, 459 (344); Mr T Foote, Broughmore, Maze, Lisburn, 560 (240); Mr H L Watson, Mount Nebo, Gilnahirk, Belfast, 552 (213); Mr R J O'Hanlon, Violet Cottage, Unshinagh, Portadown, 657 (101); Langford Lodge Poultry Farm, Crumlin, Co Antrim,. 546 (194); Mr J R C Patrick. Carnaff, Dervock, 356 (374); Mr W Patton, The Hill; Loughries, Newtownards, 641 (79); Mrs M Finlay, Langfield Poultry Farm, Armoy, 440 (278); Mr M Scott, Crumlin, 455 (259); Miss M Shields, Tamanyagan, Park, Dungiven, 420 (291); Mrs G Hegan, Spamount, Sherrygroom, Dungannon, 300 (410); Mr R A Copeland, Blackscull, Dromore, Co Down, 517 (167); Mr T E Taylor, Ballyrobert, Craigavad, 188 (492); Miss M C Dunlop, Annemount, Keady, 427 (251); Mrs H Getty, Hillcrest, Newtownards, 43 (632); Miss M E McElderry, Victoria Street, Ballymoney, 253 (410); Mr P E Carke, Loanda House, Doran's Hill, Newry, 267 (395); Mr N Ormsby, Harryville, Lisburn, 302 (352); Mr W W McCullough, Carnalbanagh, Ballymena, 448 (198); Miss E E Kennedy, Tullyreagh, Glarryford, 294 (337); Mrs H E Stevenson, Dreemore, Dungannon, 222 (398); Mr M Scott, Crumlin, 411 (207); Mr T J McMillan, Crossgar, 295 (318); Miss E E Kennedy. Tullyreagh, Glarrvford, 229 (368); Mr T E Taylor, Ballyrobert, Craigavad, 79 (517); Mrs H Farr, Ballygsinney, Dundrum, 301 (271); Mr H Ramsey. Sylvan Cottage, Gilnahirk, 196 (376); Mr T Foote, Broughmore, Maze, Lisburn, 253 (270) (1 dead); Mrs H Getty, Hillcrest, Newtownards, 120 (370) (1 dead); Mr J Benson, Corkhill Rock, Dungannon, 348 (337); Mr T E Taylor, Ballyrobert, Ballyrobert, Craigavad, 185 (295) and Mr T J McMillan, Crossgar, 94 (372) (1 dead).