88 



ANNUAL EEPOETS OP DEPARTMENT OP AGEICULTUEE. 



and 1914 and the number of mares bred during the spring breeding 

 season of the year 1915 : 



Record of stallions in Army Jiorse-breeding work. 



1 Estimated. 



Owing to the decreased appropriation, it has been found impossible 

 to comply with many requests for placing one or more stallions in 

 service ui other sections of the country ; in fact, a curtailment for the 

 coming year has been found necessary. 



RAISING HORSE AND MULE COLTS. 



The feeding experiment with horse and mule colts at the experi- 

 ment farm at Beltsville, Md., has been continued throughout the 

 year. Records have been kept of the feed eaten, with a view to com- 

 piling the results for publication. 



BREEDING HORSES ON INDIAN RESERVATIONS. 



The work in cooperation with the Indian Office of the Interior 

 Department in assisting the Indians at the Cheyenne River Agency, 

 S. Dak., to improve their horses is progressing very satisfactorily. 

 During the fiscal year, 382 mares were bred to the light stallions. 



CERTIFICATION OF PURE BREEDING OF IMPORTED ANIMALS. 



Under the provisions of paragraph 397 of the tariff act of October 

 3, 1913, the bureau issued during the fiscal year certificates of pure 

 breeding for 589 horses, 609 dogs, and 8 cats imported for breeding 

 purposes. 



POULTRY INVESTIGATIONS. 



FEEDING FOR EGG PRODUCTION. 



The feeding experiments which have been under way for some 

 time at the Beltsville farm, to study the relative efficiency of various 

 combinations of feed and feeding conditions, are being continued. 

 Nine pens of fowls have been used, six of which will have completed 

 three years under observation at the close of this calendar year. The 

 same rations have been used from year to year. In a general way it 

 may be said that up to this time the leghorns lead in economy of egg 

 production, and the results indicate that it does not pay to keep fowls 



