EXPERIMENT STATION REPORTS. 79 



To the Director: 



I have the honor to submit the following report of the work in experi- 

 ments with live stock for the year ending June 30, 1900: 

 • A bulletin on the "Production and Marketing of Wool" was completed 

 and mailed by the station. As this bulletin appears in full elsewhere 

 in the current report of the State Board of Agriculture it is unnecessary 

 to speak of its contents. 



We are still investigating this subject with a view of placing in the 

 hands of the wool growers information which, if taken advantage of, 

 will make it possible for wool growers of Michigan to get the highest 

 market price for their wools. 



We cannot say as yet whether or not enough information will be gath- 

 ered to complete another bulletin. If not, some wa3^ will be planned 

 to give the peoi)le the benefit of our investigations. 



An experiment had been planned in testing the relative value of silage 

 and shock corn for fattening steers, but for lack of funds the experiment 

 had to be abandoned. We are now expecting to carry forward this pro- 

 posed feeding experiment during the coming winter season. 



We have been planning for some time a breed test with our principal 

 breeds of sheep. Not a comparative feeding test, but by using a definite 

 number of breeding ewes of each of the leading breeds of sheep and 

 carrying them through for a year or more the relative cost of keeping the 

 same would be indicated. We believe such an experiment would be of 

 great value to our farmers. We know much more of the probable rela- 

 tive income from the different breeds than we do of the relative cost of 

 keeping the same. One factor is as important as the other in deciding 

 the relative profit of the different breeds in the farmer's hands, and 

 we believe there will be less chance for misleading results in an attempt 

 to fix upon an average cost of keep for a year, than upon the relative 

 income. In an experiment of this nature the income from each breed 

 might be noted. Funds are not available for carrying forward this 

 experiment the coming year, but we trust it may not be delayed longer. 



Respectfully submitted, 



HERBERT W. MIMFORD, 

 Experi'nienter loith Live Stock 

 Agricultural College, Mich., 

 June 30. 1900. 



