102 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



tended by the activities of extension workers in various States. They 

 and county-agent forces have made excellent use of material de- 

 veloped and furnished. Through demonstrations, meetings, exhibits, 

 contests, and other resources at their disposal they have given to the 

 bureau's fundamental data an effective local application. 



BETTER FEEDING OF LIVESTOCK. 



A topic related to the improvement of common stock by breeding 

 it to better sires is the opportunity for adding to individual and 

 national veelfare by the better feeding of farm animals. The con- 

 stant demand for information on good feeding methods and the 

 fact that there is room for improvement in this field makes such an 

 activity highly desirable. The problem is largely one of making 

 available in attractive form the existing knowledge on the subject. 



PROGRESS IN FEEDING INVESTIGATIONS. 



Recent experiments by the bureau have resulted in new and funda- 

 mental knowledge on the feeding of meat animals, particularly 

 cattle and swine. A series of experiments conducted cooperatively 

 with several States shows the influence of winter rations for cattle 

 and calves on their ability to use pasture economically the following 

 season. This investigation has included costs of production as well 

 as gains on various rations. 



Inquiry into the causes of soft pork, begun more than a year ago, 

 has been continued. The efl'ect of peanuts and peanut meal has re- 

 ceived major consideration, but the effects of other feeds, such as soy 

 beans and rice by-products, likewise have been studied. Develop- 

 ments in this work are resulting in the accumulation of new and use- 

 ful data. In poultry feeding, experiments show conclusively the 

 importance of animal protein in the ration. 



MEAT IN THE DIET. 



With considerable concern the livestock industry has noted a gen- 

 eral decline in the consumption of meat in the United States com- 

 pared with the figures of a decade ago. This fact, combined with 

 the falling off of exports to practically a pre-war basis, has shown 

 the need for close attention to the study of meat in the American diet. 



An increased recognition of the nutritive value of meats and the 

 distribution of educational material to counteract 'ungrounded preju- 

 dices are activities obviously desirable. Through exhibits and pub- 

 lished material, steps in this direction already have been taken. 



The bureau likewise has conducted experiments to determine the 

 extent of the beneficial substances known as vitamins in various 

 meats. Results obtained thus far show that pork, especially, is 

 reasonably rich in vitamin B. The study of vitamins in meat is 

 being continued. 



Through meat-inspection records as well as from other sources 

 within and out of the department, the bureau has collected informa- 

 tion on meat production, consumption, and foreign trade. A publi- 

 cation discussing these subjects, so important to the livestock in- 

 dustry, is in press. 



