ANTMAL PRODUCTION. 673 



was a retention of material l)ef()re castration tliis retention was either decreased 

 or became a loss after castration. 



Castration and its effect on animal organism, J. H. W. T. Reimkrs {Cul- 

 iura, 21 (1909), No. 2')6, pp. (J.JG~665). — A snmmary of investigations ou this 

 topic. 



A contribution to the study of bleeding with different methods of 

 slaughtering, B. Hoth {Eiii Bcitrag zur Lehre der Aiisbliititng bci Vcrschicde- 

 ncn ScJihicIitnictliodcn. Inaug. Diss., Univ. Bern, 1908, pp. 35). — The autJior 

 reviews the literature on the subject and reports experiments involving 176 

 animals, in which, by different methods of slaughtering he obtained the fol- 

 lowing percentages of the live weights of blood discharged: With oxen, by the 

 Jewish method 3.6, by bleeding after stunning with a hammer 3.61, by the 

 use of the striking mask followed by pithing (mutilation of the medulla 

 oblongata) 3.35, and by the Stoff shooting apparatus 3.24; with cows, Jewish 

 method 4.07, stunning with hammer 4.18, pithing 3.59, and shooting apparatus 

 3.39; with bulls, Jewish method 3.56, stunning with hauuner 3.85, pithing 3.28, 

 and shooting apjiaratus 3.24; with calves, Jewish method 6.03, and cervical 

 cutting after clubbing 5.86; with sheep. Jewish method 4.45, cutting carotids 

 without stunning 4.5, and cutting carotids after stunning with hammer 4.43; 

 with sows, sticking in the chest after stunning with hannner 3.1 ; and with 

 castrated boars, sticking in chest after stunning with hammer 2.8 per cent. 



The conclusion is drawn that from a hygienic standpoint, methods which 

 do not injure the medulla oblongata are to be preferred because the latter 

 method prevents a complete discharge of the blood. In cattle and swine 

 females discharged more IWood in proportion to their weight than males, and 

 calves have proportionally more blood than mature cattle of either sex. 



What is the average loss in slaughtering Westphalian pure bred swine 

 and what are the controlling factors? W. Estor ( Wic Hoch Strllt sich der 

 Durclisclinittliclic Scfiluvlttrcrlust bvUn Wcstfdlisclien Vcrcdclten Landschwein 

 tiiid Welche Momcnte Becinflussen lliitf Inaug. Diss., Vnir. Bern, 1908, pp. 32, 

 chart 1). — Slaughter tests by the author show that the percentage of weight 

 lost in slaughtering swine ranged from 13.7 to 32.5, the average being 19.43. 

 The factors which affect the results were found to be breed, sex, time since 

 the last feeding, time of the year, and the nature of the food during the period 

 of finishing. The loss was less in cold than in warm weather, and also less 

 when the finishing was on a ration rich in protein than on a ration consisting 

 largely of potatoes. 



Short fed steers: A comparison of methods of feeding, II. W. Mumford 

 and H. O. Allison (Illinois Sta. Bui. 1^2, pp. 565-578, figs. 5). — In this experi- 

 ment 34 grass-fed 3-year old steers averaging 1,073 lbs. in weight were divided 

 into 2 lots of 17 each and fed for 89 days on a ration of corn meal, oil meal, and 

 clover hay. Lot 1 was fed twice each day as is the common practice, whereas 

 with lot 2 the clover hay was cut and mixed with the grain ration and fed 

 through a self-feeder to which the cattle had access at all times. 



The average daily gains per head were 2.984 lbs. and 3.326 lbs., respectively, 

 at a cost per pound of gain of 7.53 cts. and 7.49 cts., respectively. If the value 

 of the pork produced by the hogs kept in the pasture to utilize the waste is 

 considered, the cost of gains for the 2 lots is reduced to 7.39 and 7.11 cts., 

 respectively. The feeds were rated as follows: Ground corn $13.70, clover hay 

 $8, ground clover hay $9, and oil meal $28 per ton. When sent to market lot 1 

 was estimated at $5.45 per hundred and lot 2, $5.60 per hundred. 



" In general the financial results of this experiment were favorable to the 

 method of feeding used for lot 2. While the data given in this publication are 



