874 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



made by these steers was partially due to using a jirade of steers inferior in 

 breeding and in gaining qualities, and that high-grade feeders ijroperly fed 

 should make double these gains, reducing the cost one-half. 



Feeding and management of beef cattle, R. S. Curtis {North VnroUna Sta. 

 Bid. 219, PI). o]-68, figs. 11). — This is a popular account of the beef cattle 

 industry of North Carolina. 



More care in the selection of feeding cattle is urged and, on account of the 

 large amount of cotton-seed meal usually fed under southern conditions, short 

 feeding periods ranging from 100 to 120 days are suggested. The use of corn 

 silage and other home-grown feeds is advocated. It is stated that the most sat- 

 isfactory financial results are usually obtained by selling the finished cattle 

 at home, though shipping under certain conditions may prove advisable. Some 

 of the disorders incident to the finishing of beef cattle are noted. 



Contribution to the physiology of the nutrition of growing animals. — 

 II, The utilization of the protein in milk by calves, G. Fingerling (Landlv. 

 Vers. Stat. 7.) (1910), No. 1-2, pp. 57-80). — Digestion experiments showed that 

 as the calves grew older they needed a smaller percentage of protein. When 

 given whole milk a large percentage of the protein was excreted. For eco- 

 nomical gains easily digested fats and carbohydrates should be added to the 

 milk after the first few weeks. 



On the gain in protein in fattening full-grown wethers, T. Pfeiffer and 

 K. Friske {Landw. Vers. Stat., 74 (1911), No. 6, pp. 409-1/65).— FuU-gvown 

 wethers when fattened showed a gain in nitrogen in the form of flesh on both 

 wide and narrow rations, this gain being much faster when the animals had 

 previously been kept in a poor condition. As in a previous report (E. S. R., 22, 

 p. 473) the metabolism experiments indicated a higher gain in nitrogen than 

 did the slaughter tests, and this difference was greater on a narrow than on a 

 wide ration. Though most of the loss in nitrogen took place during the drying 

 of the feces, it is pointed out that probable further loss of nitrogen as ammonia 

 takes place from the lungs and skin and as a gas in the intestinal canal. 



Lambs on rape: Shorn v. unshorn, T. W. Lonsdale (Jour. New Zeal. De-pt. 

 Agr., 3 (1911), No. 2, p. 109). — Twenty wethers 12 weeks from shearing were 

 put on rape and allowed the run of a grass paddock adjoining. They made an 

 average gain in 12 weeks of 2.75 lbs. each more than a similar lot of unshorn 

 lambs. 



Fecundity of sheep, J. R. Ainsworth-Davis (Ann. Sci. Bill. Roy. Agr. Col. 

 Cirencester, 1910, No. 2, pp. 94-96).— A study of the twinning ability in pure- 

 bred Oxford Down sheep. 



In 1909 12 pedigree Oxford Down twin theaves were purchased, 6 from mixed 

 twins and the other 6 from ewe twins. These were mated in 1910 and 1911 

 with a pedigree Oxford Down ram. Although the experimental flock is small, 

 the results for 2 years were as follows: All the twins were borne by ewes from 

 mixed twins; the twins were predominantly mixed, and there was no case of 

 ram twins; the ewes which were originated from mixed twins produced, taking 

 twins and singles together, twice as many ewe lambs as ram lambs; the ewes 

 from the ewe twins nearly all produced ram lambs. 



The effect of food on the strength, size, and composition of the bones of 

 hogs, E. A. Burnett (Ne7)raska Sta. Rpt. 1910, pp. 17S-208, figs. 3).— A report 

 of experiments in continuation of those already reported (E. S. R., 20, p. 868). 

 In a test with 41 pigs fed at the North Platte Substation in 1908-9. the 

 average breaking strength of all the bones tested (femur, tibia, humerus, and 

 radius and ulna), per 100 lbs. live weight, for the different lots was as follows: 

 On ground corn 465 lbs. ; on ground corn and alfalfa meal 9 :1, 397 lbs. ; on 



