The Sydney Morning Herald Thursday, November 3, 1983 Page 3
Open-range egg farmer ordered to cut production
By SUE MORGAN
A Sydney open-range egg producer says he has been told to cut back on production – even though he cannot keep up with the demand for his eggs.
Mr Alec Schembri with all NSW egg producers has been ordered by the Egg Corporation to cut his hen numbers by 10 per cent.
The corporation ordered the cut because it has been losing up to $10 million a year due to massive over-production.
Mr Schembri says he is one of two open-range egg producers servicing the Sydney metropolitan area.
“I have been knocking back requests from shops at the rate of three a day because I haven’t got enough eggs and now I have been told to cut my production because overall there are surplus eggs” he said. “I have got to keep in line because of the cage farmers.”
Mr Schembri’s business, Open Range Country Style Egg Producers at Vineyard, will have to get rid of 850 birds to comply with the corporation’s order. He will then have to ration out the eggs, cutting the supply to shops by five per cent.
He has already dropped 20 out of 70 shops from his round because of the cut. Mr Schembri estimated he would lose about $200 a week because of the reduction.
"Some of his customers expressed concern about the cut and some shop owners said they would take up a petition, he said.
“Some have even said that if they cannot get open-range eggs then they won’t buy any at all. That’s not really very good thinking from the corporation. They realise, but it (open range egg production) is something they just don’t want to catch on. “They would not worry about what sort of eggs they sell as long as they sell eggs”.
The managing director of the NSW Egg Corporation, Mr Ken Baxter said last night there were two or three “genuine” open-range egg producers supplying the Sydney area. Others sold eggs from road-side stalls and backyards.
Demand fluctuated between two and three million eggs a year but he could not estimate supply numbers because of questions surrounding the producers. He could not say whether open-range producers would be disadvantaged or not by the production cut.
Asked if a special allowance could be made for them he replied: “I think if you apply a rule to one, you apply it to all”.
Hoof History
RETIRED Vineyard poultry farmer Alex Schembri etched his name in Sydney Royal Show history when he won the inaugural goat hoof and hook competition.
A first-time exhibitor, Mr Schembri successfully showed a Boer cross Cashmere goat which won its live class (hoof) and placed third in the carcass class (hook) to become overall champion on points.
His second exhibit, a Boer cross Angora, placed second in the hook competition.
Mr Schembri started breeding Boer goats about 12 months ago to keep himself “out of trouble”. I'm a poultry farmer and when I retired I had to do something to keep active, I’d read a lot about Boer goats so I thought I would try them”.
Above: Alex Schembri of Norebo Goat Farm, Vineyard displays the 50/50 Boer Cashmere U25kg live weaned class winner & Grand Champion.
∙ Photo courtesy The Land
Gazette, Wednesday, April 14, 1999
Page 15
2004 HAWKESBURY SHOW
Judge Pierre Bouwer with winners Alex Schembri and buck "Norebo Basil" (Class Six and Champion Boer Buck) and A Davies and doe "Davel Ester" (Class Two Champion Doe and Supreme Boer Goat Exhibit).
Alex with "Norebo Basil"
Winner of
"Buck Kid Over 6 & Under 12 Months"
and
2004 Show Champion Boer Buck
Gazette, Wednesday, May 5, 2004
Page 36
More clippings soon!
Nest egg from a hobby
A poultry farmer who started breeding race horses as a hobby won his first city race yesterday at Rosehill.
Mr Alex Schembri has spent over $20,000 in the past three years since he decided to diversify his interests at his Vineyard property.
Instead of buying yearlings, Mr Schembri bought two broodmares Muni and Star Peace.
Muni cost him $11,500 and has produced three foals, including the provincial winner Witchcraft.
Breeding
But it was Star Peace a $7,500 buy who took the honours of producing the first city winner, Sprayette.
Trained by Pat Murray, Sprayette (7-1) yesterday won the Second Parramatta Stakes (1200m) by one length from Stormy’s Lady (7-1).
“All those chooks can drive you mad so I decided a few horses around the place would be a nice change, but I now have nine horses and it is becoming something more than a hobby” Mr Schembri said.
Mr Schembri linked with Pat Murray from the start of his breeding venture and, the Randwick trainer has prepared all of Muni and Star Peace’s progeny.
The Tommy Smith trained Yeux De Feu (5-1) was third, performing much better than her heavily backed stablemate Romantic Cellar.
Breeder's win
not paltry
_______________
By CHRIS SCHOLTZ
_______________
Mr and Mrs Alex Schembri, with Sprayette and trainer Pat Murray (left) at Rosehill yesterday.
Daily Telegraph
Thursday, 10th August, 1978
