BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 81 



the surplus rams from our flock are being more eagerly sought for 

 each year. The number of lambs raised in 1916 was 125 per cent 

 of the number of ewes bred, and their average weight on July 1 was 

 65 pounds. They were valued by local shippers at 10^ cents a pound 

 live weight at the farm. No feed or methods were used that would 

 not be practicable for farmers' commercial flocks. Had the lambs 

 been marketed instead of held for breeding, the average income from 

 lambs and wool would have been $10 per ewe. 



MILCH GOAT INVESTIGATIONS. 



The number of goats milked at the Beltsville farm has been 

 reduced to 15 by transfer of part of the stock to the Sea View Hos- 

 pital, Department of Health, New York City. A cooperative plan 

 has been made with that institution whereby the value of goat's milk 

 for feeding tuberculous patients and infants will be thoroughly tested 

 and the results of the experiments furnished to this bureau. Ar- 

 rangements have also been made with the New York Foundling 

 Hospital to conduct cooperative studies of the value of goat's milk 

 for infants. 



Tests of milk-producing rations are being made with the does 

 now being milked at the Beltsville farm. The kids are being fed 

 upon different milk substitutes to decide upon a practicable feed that 

 can be recommended to goat owners who must use all the milk for 

 their families and who still desire to raise the young stock. 



PREPARATION OF WOOLS. 



Important progress has been made in the campaign in Western 

 States for improvement in the preparation of wools for market. It 

 has always been apparent that the main need was for a greater 

 familiarity with market requirements on the part of the wool grow- 

 ers. An educational exhibit of wools, showing grades and values 

 as well as common defects preventable by range management, was 

 prepared. Live sheep as well as fleeces were used. The car contain- 

 ing this exhibit was circulated in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and 

 Utah under cooperative arrangements with the agricultural colleges 

 of those States. More than 50 towns were visited, chiefly in Wyoming 

 and Utah. A continuation and extension of this work is proposed 

 as soon as further arrangements can be made with the colleges. A 

 motion picture film showing the processes of worsted manufacture 

 as well as warehouse grading has been prepared for use in this work 

 during the year. 



SWINE INVESTIGATIONS. 



PORK PRODUCTION. 



Pork production investigations at the Beltsville farm have been 

 held back somewhat, waiting for the equipment of the abattoir. Ex- 

 periments are in progress to determine the relative value of certain 

 forage crops for growing pigs. In cooperation with the bureaus of 

 Chemistry and Plant Industry, studies have been made of the value 

 of dried, pressed potato, supplemented by feeds rich in protein, for 

 fattening hogs. Experiments have also been made to determine the 

 value of potato silage as a feed for swine, and this work is being 



