ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 775 



Report of work at the Kodiak live stock and breeding station, M. D. 

 Snodgrass {Alaaka Stun. Rpt. I!)0S, pi). ')t<-U2, 07/ ). — This report consists of notes 

 on improvement of the live stock equipment and methods of feedini? and caring 

 for the herd of Galloway cattle. 



Seventeen head of Galloway cattle, turned into the woods October 31, received 

 less than one-half ration of native hay till February 12, and from then to 

 :May 20 they were fed each evening 9 to 14 lbs. of alfalfti, dei)ending upon the 

 weather. The remainder of their feed was obtained by browsing. "The spruce 

 woods furnish excellent shelter for stock and are preferred to the shed by the 

 cattle for the most of the time. Only the cold northeast rains would drive the 

 cattle to the shed. The cattle, thus wintered, did much better than those shel- 

 tered at night for the whole winter and fed more liberally." 



The most critical time of the year for cattle is May, because the new grass 

 is short and the cattle sutfer from cold, wet rains. Grass grows rapidly after 

 June 1. " The summer pasture was good and stock fattened rapidly. The 

 days in summer are long and cattle feed from IS to 20 hours every day. Young 

 stock make rapid growth and w^ere fat enough for beef by August 1, as were 

 the cows in calf." Cows with calves received a grain ration in the winter 

 mouths and were allowed to roam in the woods during the day. Native grasses 

 are cured for hay. Beach grass is used for making silage. 



" The outlook for successful work with live stock in this region is very bright 

 and deserves attention of every citizen of Alaska, even though he is not directly 

 interested in stock. It should be possible for people to get beef without having 

 to depend upon the boats from the States. There is ample feed for thousands 

 of cattle and sheep on these islands, where there is nothing to-day except a few 

 foxes and bear. It is true that conditions differ from those of the States, but 

 live stock will live here and do well under proper management." 



Coyote-proof pasture experiment, 1908, J. T. Jakdine (U. S. Dept. Agr., 

 Forest Serv. Circ. 160, pp. J/O, figs. 5). — This is a continuation of work previously 

 noted (E. S. R., 20, p. 6GG), and discusses the durability of the coyote-proof 

 fence and the cost of maintaining it, the attitude of predatory animals toward 

 the fence, the actions of a band of Merino ewes and lambs when at liberty in 

 the inclosure, and the effects of such a grazing system ui)on the sheep and the 

 carrying capacity of grazing lands. 



For the first year the cost of maintaining the 8-mile fence, $20, was expended 

 chiefly for removing trees which had fallen across the fence, and for filling in 

 small holes made by the spring run-offs. All kinds of bears had no difficulty in 

 passing through the fence, .3 lynxes went through or over the fence, and 2 

 badgers dug under the fence. No conclusions were drawn as to bobcats, but 

 one went in and out over a fallen tree across the fence. The fence has proved 

 to be entirely successful, however, against the coyote, the one great menace to 

 the sheep industry. 



The observations on the action of a band of over 2.000 ewes and lambs are 

 summarized as follows : " When entirely protected from destructive animals and 

 unmolested by herders and dogs, a band of ewes and lambs will separate into 

 bimches, come together again, and perhaps again separate while grazing; that 

 they will graze very much more openly and do less trailing than when herded; 

 that they may travel as far, perhaps, as when herded, but because they are 

 scattered and pass over an area only once, the movement is less injurious to 

 the forage crop: that their natural tendency is to bed at night in bunches, but 

 in smaller bunches than when herded ; that after they Itccouie accustomed to 

 this fr<*e system of grazing they are contented to bed wherever night overtakes 

 them, if suitable ground can be found." 



