ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 587 



groin and total food, L0.5 lbs. and 17 lbs., were noted with lot 1. The cost of a pound 

 of gain ranged from 6.04 cts. with lot 3 (corn and alfalfa) to 8.27 cts. with lot 1 (corn 

 and prairie hay). According to the authors' calculations the smallest profit, 38 cts. 

 per head, was obtained with lot 1 and the greatest, $8.66 per head, with lot 3. The 

 authors' conclusions follow: 



" Some protein-rich food like oil meal, added in small quantity to a ration of corn 

 and prairie hay, to give a better balance of nutrients, lessens very considerably the 

 amount of food required for a given gain, and lessens the cost of gains. 



"A combination of alfalfa hay and corn makes a satisfactory ration without commer- 

 cial protein foods, being much superior to corn and prairie hay. 



" Field-cured cornstalks fed witli corn and a little oil meal give large and cheap 

 gains, emphasizing the importance of harvesting the stalks for winter feeding." 



Corn versus corn and oil meal for finishing steers on grass was tested with 2 lots of 

 5 animals each. On corn the average daily gain was 1.63 lbs., the grain eaten per 

 pound of gain 10.9 lbs., and the cost of a pound of gain 7.41 cts. On corn and oil 

 meal similar values were 2.02 lbs., S.S lbs., and 6.55 cts. 



"The results would indicate that the corn and grass in this experiment did not 

 supply sufficient protein for cheapest gains. It was very noticeable all through the 

 experiment that the lot having oil meal was much less troubled with scours, which 

 may partially account for the greater gains of that lot. 



" Having received but little grain on alfalfa the first winter, a half grain ration the 

 second winter, and full feed on grass the following summer, these steers consumed 

 for the whole period an average of but 5.9 lbs. of grain for 1 lb. of gain." 



The score card in stock judging at agricultural colleges, G. M. Rommel 

 ( U. S. Dept. Agr., Bureau of Animal Industry Bui. 61, pp. 124, ph. 16, figs. 11). — A 

 summary of data regarding the use of score cards at the American agricultural 

 colleges. 



Information for importers of animals for breeding purposes, G. M. Rommel 

 ( U. S. Dept. Agr., Bureau of Animal Industry Circ. 50, pp. 16). — A list is given of the 

 books of record of pedigrees certified by the Department of Agriculture to date, 

 together with the rulings of the Secretary of the Treasury which have to do with the 

 importation of live stock. 



The Indian water buffalo, F. Limouzin (Natal Agr. Jour, and Min. Bee, 7 (1904), 

 No. 8, pp. 743, 744). — It is stated that though the Indian water buffalo may be 

 used for plowing and sometimes for hauling heavy timber, yet these animals are not 

 satisfactory for draft purposes, since they are very slow in their movements. They 

 are sometimes milked and butter made from the milk, but both the butter and milk 

 are insipid and almost tasteless. In the author's opinion the animals are of no value 

 when slaughtered, the meat being tasteless, tough, and very coarse. 



Barbados sheep, G. M. Rommel (Breeder's Gaz., 46 (1904), No. 19, p. 845, 

 fig. 1). — The so-called woolless sheep from Barbados, recently imported into this 

 country by the Bureau of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture, are 

 described. It is thought that these sheep may prove useful for the production of 

 mutton in the southern States. 



Studies on the feeding of work horses, VIII, L. Grandeau and A. Alekan 

 (Ann Sci. Agron., 2. ser., 9 (1904), I, Nos. 1, pp. 30-70; 3, pp. 330-357).— 

 The special object of the experiments was to learn the effect of sugar added to a 

 ration. The tests were made with 3 horses engaged in different kinds of work, the 

 special characteristics of the rations tested being hay alone and with sugar, mal- 

 tine, corn with sugar, and "granules" alone and with sugar. The so-called "gran- 

 ules" consisted of a mixture of commercial by-products and were especially rich in 

 protein. 



The coefficients of digestibility of the various rations were determined. In addi- 

 tion to the usual constituents the authors took into account the total and saccharifi- 



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