BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 93 



peanuts. The study of soft pork includes experiments in feedino; in 

 cooperation with southern experiment stations, the slaughter of the 

 animals at the bureau farm, Beltsville, Md., and various laboratory 

 tests of the meat and fat. 



EXTENSION ACTIVITIES. 



Native ewes bred to purebred rams at the Mississippi Coastal Plain 

 Expermient Station resulted in lambs which when 6 months old out- 

 weighed their dams and yielded more than twice as much wool. 



Boy.s' and <rirls* poultry clubs have brought about increased (juality 

 of fowls bred and raised by the members. Frequently club members 

 have exhibited their fowls and obtained prizes in competition with 

 more experienced l)reeders. 



DAIRY ACTIVITIES. 



Dairv-extension work has" introduced successfully methods of 

 oheesenip.king developed in the bureau. In the South, particularly 

 in Xorth Carolina and Tennessee, the cheese industry is becomin<i a 

 noteworthy factor in dairving. In each of these States two new fac- 

 tones were established during the year with the help of Dairy Divi- 

 sion specialists. The Grove City Creamery, Grove City, Pa., con- 

 ducted under the flirection of the Dairy Division, continues to manu- 

 facture foreign types of cheese, made by methods developed in the 

 laboratory of that division. The, production of Ixoquefort, Swiss, 

 and Camembert cheese during the year exceeded 130.000 pounds. 



The i)re\alence ot milking machines on dairy farms of the country 

 has resulted in a demand foi- information on best methods of cleaning 

 and sterilizing such equipment. In tests conducted on Virginia and 

 Maryland farms the heat method gave somewhat better results than 

 disinfecting solutions. 



MEAT INSPECTION REFLECTS LIVESTOCK CONDITIONS. 



In addition to its regulatory activities, the Federal meat-inspection 

 service furnishes information that reflects current conditions in the 

 livestock industry. The various ailments, diseases, and conditions 

 for which animals and parts were condemned are indisputable evi- 

 dence of the relative prevalence of diseases. During the hscal year 

 inspection figures showed a decrease in the total number of animals 

 .slaughtered, in the quantity of meats processecT, and in the amount 

 of meat and i^i'oduct certified for export. This information corrobo- 

 rates other findings of the bureau, pointing to somewhat decreased 

 domestic consum])tion of meats. During the year provision was made 

 for the inspection of horses and hor.sc meat, and 1.093 horses were 

 federally inspectefl. A very large proportion of the horse meat 

 passed for food is exported. 



RECOMMENDATIONS. 



As to the more urgent needs for protecting the livestock industry 

 of the Xation. the following re.connnendations are made: 



That the present work on the eradication of scabies from sheep 

 and cattle be kept up and somewhat expanded in order not to lose 



