152 ANNUAL REPOETS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



and Truckee-Carson projects. These 53 tests included 2,161 head of 

 swine, and the results stimulated interest in better methods of utiliz- 

 ing alfalfa pasture, corn, field peas, and other farm crops used in 

 swine production. Substantial progress was made in the cooperative 

 marketing of swine, particularly on the Truckee-Carson, North 

 Platte, Huntley, and Uncompahgre projects. The swine diseases 

 which appeared on the projects were effectively controlled. Hog 

 cholera appeared on several projects, but was epidemic on the North 

 Platte project only. On this project there were 70 outbreaks, and 

 preventive treatment was applied in 88 herds, including 5,910 hogs, 

 of which 87 per cent were saved. There are on the projects where 

 we were operating about 30 organizations of swine growers, which are 

 doing effective work in the control of swine diseases. Attention was 

 paid to the control of minor diseases and pests affecting swine, and 

 satisfactory results were secured from these activities. 



THE BEEF INDUSTRY. 



The beef industry has received attention chiefly on the Minidoka, 

 Tieton, Boise, Shoshone, and Uncompahgre projects. The settlers 

 on these projects have been assisted in securing improved breeding 

 stock and in improving their methods of feeding. Special attention 

 has been paid to the organization and conduct of farmers' associa- 

 tions for cooperative use of range lands adjacent to the projects. 

 This cooperative grazing is now being practiced by settlers on the 

 Boise, Minidoka. Shoshone, and Tieton projects. Considerable at- 

 tention was paid to the control of blackleg among beef cattle. Pre- 

 ventive treatment was administered to 4,481 head of stock and the 

 method of immunization was explained to the farmers. Cooperative 

 marketing of beef stock was successfully inaugurated on the Sho- 

 shone project. 



SHEEP PRODUCTION. 



During the past year there has been more interest in sheep produc- 

 tion than in any other live-stock industry, as the result of the un- 

 usually strong demand and high prices for mutton and wool. The 

 chief work in connection with sheep production was done on the 

 Minidoka, Truckee-Carson, Shoshone, Boise, Uncompahgre, and 

 Huntley projects. Special attention has been paid to securing breed- 

 ing stock for the settlers. This has usually been possible by keeping 

 in touch with the range sheep producers and by disseminating among 

 the settlers information as to where breeding stock could be secured. 

 Attention has been paid to methods of fee(nng, particularly on the 

 Minidoka project. A Department Bulletin, No. 573, entitled "The 

 Sheep Industry on the Minidoka Eeclamation Project," was pre- 

 pared during the year. This bulletin describes the sheep industry 

 on the Minidoka project, where it has reached a high degree of 

 development, and discusses the conditions under which the industry 

 is being built up. The material in this bulletin has been made avail- 

 able to the settlers on the other reclamation projects where the con- 

 ditions with respect to sheep production are similar to those on the 

 Minidoka project. ^ Attention has been paid to cooperative grazing, 

 and three cooperative sheep herds are now being grazed by settlers 



