BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTEY. 75 



polydactylism, absence of eyeball, etc., are also being investigated 

 and have already yielded some very curious facts. 



The most obvious result of the work on inbreeding is the mere 

 fact that the closest possible inbreeding for over 10 generations may 

 produce little, if any, degeneration in growth, vitality, or fecundity. 

 As yet no specific effect of inbreeding is wholly certain other than 

 the very important tendency toward homogeneity — the irrevocable 

 fixing of good, bad, or indifferent traits within a family. In the 

 traits thus fixed' the first few generations of inbreeding are very 

 important. 



This work, with other recent results, suggests that inbreeding may 

 be used more extensively by the practical breeder than it is at pres- 

 ent. In the work of producing a new strain, as many different foun- 

 dation lines of merit as practicable should be started. There should 

 be rigid selection associated with inbreeding in each for a few gener- 

 ations, followed by elimination of inferior lines. The result should 

 be a few lines practically as vigorous and fecund as normally bred 

 stock, yet showing a uniformity of type unattainable without in- 

 breeding. 



ANIMAL HUSBANDRY EXPERIMENTAL FARM. 



At the experimental farm near Beltsville, Md., considerable prog- 

 ress has been made in drainage, and the effects indicate that the land 

 has been improved by this process. It is expected to continue the 

 draining as funds permit until all the tillable portion of the farm is 

 thoroughly drained. During the year some clearing of land has 

 been done. A small abattoir has been erected for use in following 

 the feeding investigations to definite conclusion and noting the 

 effects of feeds on carcasses produced. 



BEEF-CATTLE INVESTIGATIONS. 



The beef-cattle investigations, started in 1904 in cooperation with 

 the Alabama experiment station, were begun in the firm conviction 

 that the South presented opportunities for the extension of the beef- 

 cattle industry which had been overlooked, and that the circum- 

 stances which were tending to curtail production in other sections of 

 the country would compel beef production in southern territory. 

 Although there was comparatively little demand at the time for in- 

 formation on beef production in the South, it was felt that this 

 demand would in time become apparent. Investigations were there- 

 fore begun with the idea that by the time definite information on the 

 subject was needed the department would be in a position to furnish 

 it. The southern territory is now regarded by everyone familiar 

 with the beef-cattle industry as a fruitful field for future develop- 

 ment. • Breeding herds are being established throughout the South, 

 and the leading beef-cattle breeders' associations are featuring the 

 southern trade; two of them hold sales in cooperation with this de- 

 partment. Cattle from southern herds have won the highest honors 

 in northern show rings, and steers from southern feed lots, after 

 having been properly fattened, now command high prices in northern 

 markets. 



Until recently practically all of our beef-cattle work was done in 

 southern territory, south of the Ohio Kiver and east of the Missis- 

 72412°— age 1916 6 



