ANIMAL, PRODUCnON. 675 



The caracul breed of sheep, C. C. Young (Amer. Breeders Mag., 2 (1911) , 

 No. 1, pp. 34-46, figs. 0). — This is a discussion of the characteristics of the dif- 

 ferent types of Arabi or caracul breed of sheep, and on the characters of the 

 fleece obtained from crosses with Arabi breeds, which the author thinks are 

 superior to the imported Persian lamb skins now sold in the United States. 

 Crosses with long wools, particularly Lincolus, have so far produced the best 

 fleeces. 



[The supply of mutton and wool to Great Britain from outside sources] 

 (Mark Lane Express, 105 (1911), No. J,161, pp. 875, 877, 879).— An extract of a 

 paper read before the Twelfth International Conference of Sheep Breeders, 

 Norwich, England, June, 1911, in which are forecasted the probable sources of 

 the world's future supplies of mutton and wool. 



Sheep industry of New Zealand, H. D, Baker (Daily Cons, and Trade 

 Rpts. [U. S.], l.'t (1911), No. 189, pp. 689-695).— A report on the growth of the 

 present condition of the sheep industry in New Zealand. 



Growing hogs in Nebraska, W. P. Snydee (Nebraska Sta. Bui. 121, pp. 40, 

 figs. 5). — This bulletin reports the results of several years' work on (1) the 

 cost of the average pig when it has reached the weight of 50 lbs., (2) the cost 

 of keeping brood sows, and (3) the cost of growing pigs on alfalfa pasture and 

 grain. 



Twenty-four old sows, pastured during the summer on alfalfa with no grain, 

 were fed a light ration of com and alfalfa hay until farrowing time, at a cost 

 of $5.19 for grain and $1.50 for alfalfa hay. The cost of feed from farrow- 

 ing time until the pigs weighed 50 lbs. was $11.89, and with pasturage at $1..5Cf 

 the total cost per sow was $20.08. The sows made an average gain of 56 lbs., 

 which is credited at $3.30, making the cost per pig at the above age $2.79. 



Young sows weighing about 70 lbs. each, pastured on alfalfa supplemented 

 with a grain mixture of corn and wheat, made an average daily gain per head 

 of 0.87 lb. It required 333 lbs. of grain, at a cost of $3.34, to produce 100 lbs. 

 of gain. They were then put on a scant rye pasture and fed a mixture of 

 corn, barley, and chopped alfalfa until farrowing time. On this feed they 

 gained 0.88 lb. per head daily, requiring 455 lbs. of grain and 153 lbs. of 

 alfalfa, at a cost of $4.56, per 100 lbs. of gain. Charging $1.50 for pasture, 

 the total cost per sow until the pigs weighed 50 lbs. was $22.54. The sows 

 made an average gain of 168 lbs., which is credited at $9.91, making the net 

 cost $2.34 per 50-lb. pig. 



In a similar experiment with 20 old sows in which the supplementing feed 

 consisted of corn, wheat, emmer, and alfalfa meal, to which was added a little 

 oil meal after farrowing, the cost per pig at 50 lbs. weight was $1.70. 



Twenty-five young sows on alfalfa pasture supplemented with com and wheat 

 made a daily gain of 0.8 lb. each, at a cost of $3.59 per 100 lbs. gain for the 

 grain. They were then put on a small rye pasture and fed a mixture of corn 

 and barley, and later on corn and wheat with chopped alfalfa until farrowing 

 time. On this ration they gained 0.95 lb. each per day, consuming 430 lbs. 

 of grain and 138 lbs. alfalfa per 100 lbs. of gain. The pigs from these sows 

 at 50 lbs. of weight cost $1.95 each. 



In an experiment with 7 sows with fall litters the feed consisted of alfalfa 

 pasture alone supplemented with a small amount of grain before farrowing. 

 The grain feed after farrowing consisted of corn, wheat, and barley. The cost 

 per pig at 50 lbs. weight in this test was $1.88. " The average results of the 

 5 preceding lots of hogs indicate that the cost of the 50-lb. pig was $2.13, or 

 at the rate of $4.26 per 100 lbs. This does not include cost of labor or equip- 

 ment or interest on investment." 



