164 ANNUAL, EEPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



elimination of " bucky " lambs. Material results can not be ex- 

 pected in the course of one year, but the interest manifested by 

 producers was gratifying and reports indicate considerable progress. 



DIVISION OF DAIRY AND POULTRY PRODUCTS. 



Roy C. Potts, In Charge. 



Dairy Products Investigations, D. L. James and C. W. Fryhofer ; Poultry 

 Products Investigations, J. M. Borders and R. B. Slocum ; Market News. 

 Service, L. M. Davis ; and Dairy Inspection Service, C. W. Fryhofer. 



DEMAND INCREASES FOR MARKET INFORMATION. 



The market ne\^'s service reports on dairy and poultry products 

 were in greater demand by the dairy and poultry industry than ever 

 before. These reports contain accurate and reliable information on 

 supply, demand, movement, and prices, and are now furnished to 

 a mailing list of more than 20,000 firms. The value of these reports 

 in giving greater stability to market conditions, thereby eliminating 

 the sudden fluctuations so ruinous to shippers and dealers, is obvious 

 and accoimts largel}^ for their increased dt>mand. At the four mar- 

 kets, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco, the 

 compilation of statistics on receipts has been abandoned by the 

 trade organizations, in recognition of those compiled at the branch 

 offices of this department. Further confidence in these reports was 

 evidenced by the fact that many firms used them as a basis for 

 prices on which settlements were made on contracts with country 

 shippers. 



Two bulletins, designed to aid in efficient marketing. Farmers' 

 Bulletin 1377, Marketing Poultry, and Farmers' Bulletin 1378, 

 Marketing Eggs, were written during the year and are now in press. 



BUTTER INSPECTION MAINTAINED AT SIX MARKETS. 



The butter inspection service maintained at Boston, New York, 

 Philadelphia, Washington, Chicago, and San Francisco was received 

 with increased favor and confidence in 1923, as evidenced by an in- 

 crease in the number of inspections made and especially by the use 

 of the service as a basis for settlements with shippers on contracts 

 which sp cified Federal inspection for the determination of quality. 

 Tliis service also was used by a number of firms which desired to 

 obtain butter of satisfactory keeping quality for storage. 



WORK TOWARD STANDARDIZING EGGS. 



The need of standardized grades for eggs has long been recognized. 

 Studies in egg standardization conducted by the bureau resulted in 

 the publication of a circular outlining tentative standards including 

 classes and grades. The importance of quality in eggs was empha- 

 sized in a circular entitled " Build a Reputation for Quality Eggs." 



EXTENSION WORK IN EGG HANDLING. 



An egg standardization campaign was conducted in the State of 

 Missouri in cooperation with the Missouri State Marketing Bureau. 

 During this campaign demonstrations of proper methods of candling, 

 grading, and packing eggs for market were made at more than -lOO' 



