BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 219 



been completed with 135 cows representing three breeds, the average 

 production per cow being 13,087 pounds of milk and 509 pounds of 

 butterfat. From these herds 63 bulls have been lent to agricultural 

 colleges and dairy farmers who are cooperating in the breeding in- 

 vestigations. 



The breeding projects at Beltsville have progressed favorably. 

 During the year a second bull, unrelated to the first one, was intro- 

 duced for use in the line-breeding and outcrossing project. 



The results of a study on the effect of age and development on 

 butterfat production of Register-of-Merit Jerseys and Advance-Reg- 

 ister Guernseys was prepared for publication, and this was followed 

 by a similar study of Advanced-Registry Ayrshire cows. 



Studies of the transmitting abilities of Holstein, Guernsey, and 

 Ayrshire sires are in progress. 



DAIRY ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY. 



Information was furnished on the construction of buildings and 

 other problems in dairy engineering in reply to inquiries on those 

 subjects. Mai\v blue prints of barn plans were sent out. 



Plans and specifications were prepared for construction work, 

 equipment, and apparatus required by the division, including sur- 

 veys, purchases, and construction at the Beltsville farm. The latter 

 work included plans and specifications for a new nutrition barn, the 

 completion of a sewage-disposal plant and sewer lines, additions and 

 improvements in the barns and the underground heating system, and 

 surveying on the new leased farm of 129 acres. 



Plans and specifications were prepared for a refrigerating plant 

 in the bureau and work was done in connection with installation. 

 Plans and specifications were also prepared for an electric plant at 

 McNeill, Miss. ; laboratories, refrigerating plant, gas plant, etc., for 

 the Animal Husbandry Division ; a pumping plant at Bethesda, Md., 

 and an abattoir at Beltsville, Md. 



A paper on the automatic control of low temperatures was pre- 

 pared. 



MEAT INSPECTION DIVISION, 



The Federal meat inspection, conducted by the Meat Inspection 

 Division, under Dr. R. P. Steddom, chief, shows the largest volume 

 of slaughter in the history of the service. As compared with the 

 preceding year there was an increase of more than 10,000,000 in the 

 total number of animals slaughtered (the increase being mainly in 

 swine) and also an increase in the quantity of meats processed and 

 in the quantity of meats and products certified for export. 



GENERAL INSPECTION OF ME;ATS. 



Inspection was conducted at 867 establishments in 261 cities and 

 towns, as compared with 899 establishments in 263 cities and towns 

 during the fiscal year 1922. Inspection was begun at 55 establish- 

 ments and withdrawn from 52, as compared with 68 and 46, respect- 

 ively, during the preceding year. Inspection was withdrawn from 

 51 establishments on account of discontinuance of interstate business 

 and from 1 on account of insanitary condition. 



