92 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



only piireln-od sires and to follow methods of breodinir loadinL'' to 

 livestock improvement. The aiii'icnitiiral jiress made liiieral use of 

 news material and educational articles relatiuir to the practical bene- 

 fits following: the use of purebred sires. Statistical information com- 

 piled from blaidvs fdled out by persons participatinn; in the campai'rn 

 shows cleaily th:it i)urel>red sires lead to rajiid improvemenf of female 

 stock li]-:ewise. 



Much jM-onrress has been made in methods of feeding: imd manaire- 

 ment. but economical production also requires careful selection and 

 constructive ])reedin<r. Livestock men are much concerned re<iai'd- 

 ing: f()i-ei<>n competition, but with well-bred farm animals of all kinds 

 the farmers of this country can best meet such competition. Many of 

 our dairy cows, even when well fed. lack the ability to produce milk 

 economically, and many steers' and ho<rs require altofrether too unich 

 f^rain to produce a pound of meat. Comprehensive investio;ations 

 are now under wa}^ to learn definitely the principles of breeding that 

 will make possible the most economical production. 



ESTABLISHING NEW BREEDS OF LIVESTOCK. 



Success has followed efforts of the bureau to develop types of live- 

 stock believed to be more useful than those now represented by present 

 breeds. Rano;e-sheep breedinjr conducted in Clark County, Idaho, is 

 resulting: in a type which has become so fixed as to warrant its clasisi- 

 fication ns a breed. These sheep, know^n as Columbia sheep, are par- 

 ticularly adapted for ran<re conditions and are believed to be profit- 

 able both for mutton and for wool production. 



A new^ type of American utility horse is rapidly being established 

 in cooperation with the State of Wyoming at Buffalo, Wyo. Charac- 

 teristics of the type, possibly, entitled to the term " breed," are 

 activity, strength, endurance, and reasonable speed. The horses are 

 believed to meet a demand for general farm and ranch work, delivery 

 purposes, and for certain classes of military service. 



Poultry breeding at the bureau farm, Beltsville. ISId., shows prog- 

 ress in the establishment of a new breed of fowl. Certain characteris- 

 tics, such as white ])lumage and yellow lee:s and skin, are noAv well 

 fixed. Init there is still considerable variation in type and in color of 

 eggs. The birds developed this year show improvement over those of 

 a year ago. 



EXPORTS OF PUREBRED LIVESTOCK. 



The increasing prominence of the United States as a source of 

 purebred livestock for other countries has resulted in bureau activities 

 planned to encourage such exportations. A representative of the 

 bureau was detailed for service in South America to acquaint live- 

 stock owners there with types of American animals and to study con- 

 ditions. The bureau has also assisted foreign purchasers of stock to 

 obtain in this country the breeds and types desired. In May, 1920. the 

 bureau sold a Morgan stallion, mare, and colt to Japan. This is one 

 of the first shipments of Morgan horses to that country. 



SOFT-PORK INVESTIGATIONS. 



In swine husbandry a new and important investigation relates to 

 the cause of soft pork often noted in southern hogs fed largely on 



