DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 73 



RErOKT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PRACTICAL AGRICUL- 

 TURE. 



To President J. L. Snyder: 



The following is the report of the department of Practical Agricul- 

 ture for the year ending June 30, 1906: 



DIVISION OP ANIMAL HUSBANDRY. 



During the year the head of the department was assisted by Mr. 

 H. W. Norton, both in the instruction work and in the execution of 

 live stock experiments and compilation of results therefrom. The keep- 

 ing of experimental herd records, registration of live stock and the 

 preparation of data for publication formed no small part of Mr. Nor- 

 ton's work. Mr. A. C. Anderson also assisted with the instruction work 

 and took charge of the dairy herd and swine. The following instruction 

 work was given in this division, viz. : For sub-freshmen and fresh- 

 men, study of breeds, 81 students, 10 hours per week for 12 weeks. 

 For seniors and specials, advanced stock judging, fall term, 16 stu- 

 dents, 10 hours per week for 10 weeks. For sophomores, animal breed- 

 ing, winter term, 50 students, 5 hours per week, 6 weeks. For juniors, 

 stock feeding, spring term, 30 students, 5 hours per week, 12 weeks. 

 For juniors, live stock experimentation, spring term, 18 students, 10 

 hours per week for 12 weeks. In the special short courses 73 first year 

 students were instructed in stock judging, 10 hours per week for 8 

 weeks, and 23 second year students in advanced stock judging^ 10 hours 

 per week, 8 weeks. 



During the year a large amount of new work has been undertaken 

 along the line of moving and remodeling the farm buildings, and im- 

 proving the live stock equipment. This work was made possible by the 

 passage of an act by the last legislature appropriating |10,000 for the 

 moving and refitting of the farm buildings, and |20,000 for use in the 

 live stock division to be used in upbuilding the college flocks and herds, 

 in conducting live stock experiments, making exhibits, or in other ways 

 tending to stimulate and develop the live stock interests of the state. 

 The special live stock appropriation was secured largely through the 

 efforts of the Michigan Association of Improved Live Stock 

 Breeders, the committee consisting of Messrs. A. H. Zenner, Robert 

 Gibbons and Jas. Slocum. The work first undertaken was that of 

 moving and rebuilding the barns, a portion of the work only was com- 

 pleted this year, owing to the fact that only one-half of the money was 

 available. It was felt that it would not be wise to make purchases of 

 expensive live stock until the building equipment was in shape to 

 handle them, hence the delay. What was known as the grain barn, 

 across the road from the farm house, was moved south and west, op- 

 posite the dairy barn, and joined to the grade herd barn, which was 

 moved back the previous year; these two buildings were converted into 

 a structure 45x150 feet and is used entirely by the grade beef and dairy 

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