214 ANNUAL REPOKTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



CATTLE BREEDING. 

 HOLSTEIN CATTLE. 



A field superintendent for the Ilolstein cattle work in cooperation 

 with the North Dakota Experiment Station began work November 

 15, 1909, the first work undertaken being to test all the cattle in the 

 herd of each member of the circuit for tuberculosis. Only four head 

 reacted in 100 tested. Two head of the four reactors were purebreds 

 that had been brought in from other States for the circuit work and 

 had been bought subject to the test. The other two were grades that 

 had been in the herds some time. 



On January 1 arrangements were made for keeping the record of 

 milk and fat produced by each cow on the circuit. The milk of each 

 cow is weighed at each milking, and the field superintendent visits 

 each farmer once a month and makes a fat test of the milk of each 

 cow. The cost of the feed is also being determined as closely as 

 possible. 



The breeding, feeding, and general care of the cattle in the herds 

 are closely watched, and the superintendent gives advice on these 

 points during his monthly visits. 



Several meetings of the members of the circuit association were 

 held during the year for instruction in better methods of feeding and 

 management. The use of silos is being especially emphasized. Mem- 

 bers of the experiment station staif have assisted at these meetings. 

 The members of the circuit and farmers of the surrounding country 

 and of the State as a whole have taken a great deal of interest in the 

 work of the circuit. The purebred Holsteins of all ages in the circuit 

 number 71 head. 



In the near future it is expected to test some of the promising cows 

 and heifers for the advance registry of the Holstein-Friesian Breeders' 

 Association. The herds will be carefully culled during the year and 

 the culls replaced with new purchases. 



MILKING SHORTHORNS. 



There are now four herds in the circuit for the breeding of milking 

 Shorthorn cattle in cooperation with the Minnesota Experiment Sta- 

 tion. During the year one herd was dropped from the circuit, and 

 one herd was added. The feeding and general management of the 

 Iterds has been materiall}'^ improved, and more careful records have 

 been kept. Two of the cooperators are now putting up silos. 



The two sires. Chief of Glenside 285899 and Beau of Glenside 

 285898, are now past 3 years old. In addition to what is known of 

 the general high standard of the milking heredity of these bulls, 

 their value from this standpoint has been much enhanced during the 

 past year by the record of 18,000 pounds of milk and 735 pounds of 

 butter made by Rose of Glenside, the dam of Chief of Glenside and 

 the half-sister of Beau of Glenside. These bulls are now being used 

 entirely on the circuit. They have sired several yearlings and about 

 20 calves dropped in the fall of 1909 and spring of 1910. These are 

 a thrifty, rugged lot and give promise of growing into very good 

 cattle. 



