98 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



sirahle sires. Their olTorts arc bejjinnin^ to show roinarkahle results 

 in many henls where purebred sires have rephiced the inferior ones 

 formerly used. Durintr the last year they were instrumental in the 

 purchase by farmci-s of 3.'}8 jnircbi-cd l)ulls and 41'^ puj-cl)red cows. 

 A laroc number of cooperatiye breeders' sales of purebred cattle 

 were conducted nnder the direction and superyision of the specialists. 

 Tiiey also aided in the or«ranization of a lar<2:e number of liyestock 

 associations, with a totiil of ii,0()() members, held ItM meetiii<2;s and 

 lecture courses, with an attendance of 16,T.'59, and <i;aye si)ecilic in- 

 struction to 954 farmers on their farms. This work was discontinued 

 entirely on June '^0, 1920, when the appropriation under which it 

 had been conducted lapsed. 



SWINE INVESTIGATIONS. 



The breeding herd of hogs at the bureau's experiment farm at 

 Beltsyillc, Md., consisting of purebred animals of the Duroc-Jersey, 

 Poland China, Hampshire, Chester White, Berkshire, and Tamworth 

 breeds, last spring numbered 57 brood sows and 9 boars. The pigs 

 are used in experimental work. 



The third experiment in the series to determine the effect of lice 

 on the fattening of pigs was completed. Fifteen pigs infested with 

 lice and 15 without lice were kept under similar conditions for S9 

 days. The former made an ayerage daily gain of 1.28 pounds and 

 the latter 1.59 pounds. The feed cost per pound of gain was 15.2 

 cents for the former and 12.3 cents for the latter. 



An exhibit of cured pork was prepared at the Beltsyille farm for 

 showing at fairs. Products from the Beltsyille experimental abat- 

 toir yielded $7,095.10, Avhich was paid into the Ignited States 

 Treasury. 



lEKOINCi TISIIKKV r.Y-Pl!OI)UCTS. 



Experiments in the use of fisli meal and other fish-factory by- 

 products as a protein feed for swine were continued, in cooperation 

 with the Bureau of Fisheries of the Department of Commerce and 

 the Bureau of Chemistry of this department. Feeding tests w^ere 

 made with meal from menhaden and from grayfish, and also with 

 fish meal with varying contents of oil and differing in other wa3^s. 

 The feeding value of these materials was confirmed, and no dis- 

 agreeable flavor or odor could be detected in the meat of the hogs 

 to which they were fed. Manufacturers have been encouraged to 

 prepare the products in such manner that they could be recommended 

 to hog feeders, and efforts have been made to acquaint feeders with 

 the merits of fish meal as a protein concentrate and as a supplement 

 to corn. 



Shrimp waste, known also as shrimp bran, from the lower Atlantic 

 and Gulf coast shrimp-packing industry, wdiile lower in protein and 

 having a less valuable mineral content than fish meal, has proved also 

 to be a valuable addition to the list of available hog feeds. ^ 



SOFT-POKK INVESTIGATIONS. 



A study of the problem of soft pork in the Southern States was 

 begun under a special appropriation by Congress. Much of the work 



