ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 171 



At the close of tlie winter feeding the cattle were grazed during the summer 

 for three months under similar conditions, with a resulting average gain per 

 head of 84, 1G3, and 177 lbs., respectively. 



The weight of calves, C. D. Stewart (Ann. Sci. Bui. Roy. Agr. Col. Ciren- 

 cester, No. 4-5 (1912-13), pp. 12, 73).— From careful records taken of 19 

 Shorthorn cows it was found that the average gestation period of cows bearing 

 bull calves was 288.91 days; of cows bearing heifer calves, 283.75 days. The 

 longest period in the former was 297 days and the shortest period 280 days; in 

 the latter 293 and 274. The average weight of the bull calves was 89.45 lbs. : 

 that of the heifer calves, 82.5 lbs. It was found that the longer the period the 

 heavier the calf in each case. It was noted that the heavier calves are pro- 

 duced from cows in their prime ; that is, ranging from 5 to 7 years of age ; after 

 this age the calves appeared to become smaller at birth. It is thought safe to 

 take an average of 285 days as the period of gestation and 84 lbs. as the average 

 weight of a Shorthorn calf at birth. 



Rye and blue grass pastures, with, and without grain, for ewes suckling 

 lambs, H. Hackedorn (Missouri 8ta. Circ. 73 (1915), pp. 33-40, figs. 2). — This 

 circular supplements material previously reported (E. S. R., 32, p. 669). 



Four lots of 8 mature western ewes, each with their 7 to 10, 20 to 22-day-old 

 suckling lambs, were fed 56 days as follows: Lot 1, rye pasture and grain; 

 lot 2, rye pasture; lot 3, blue-grass pasture and grain; and lot 4, blue-grass 

 pasture, the grain mixture consisting of equal parts of cracked corn, oats, and 

 bran. The ewes lost 1.96, 10.19, 2.26, and 11.64 lbs. per head, respectively. Al- 

 though the ewes in lots 2 and 4 lost heavily, they were thrifty and in healthy 

 condition. The average daily gains of the lambs were 0.468, 0.449, 0.597, and 

 0.45 lb. per head. The grain consumed by the lambs per 100 lbs. gain was 42.55, 

 39.33, 41.57, and 49.33 lbs. for the respective lots. The average total grain con- 

 sumed per ewe in lots 2 and 4 was 99.78 and 110.93 lbs., respectively. 



Studies on the variations in the results of factory, microscopic, and 

 breeders' methods of wool sorting, P. Kereszturi (Eiserlet. Kozlem., 17 

 (1914), No. 5, pp. 835-866). — This is a discussion of the advantages of the 

 microscopic method of wool grading, suggesting that it be adopted by manufac- 

 turers and breeders, thus obviating the variations in the results obtained by 

 their methods. 



Goats and their ancestors, L. Boutan (Bui. Soc, Etude et Vulg. Zool. Agr., 

 13 (1914), Nos. 10, pp. 168-171; 11, pp. 173-177; 12, pp. 196-201).— A general 

 discussion of the origin and development of the various breeds of goats in 

 Europe, Asia, and Africa, more especially the Angora, and the importation of 

 this breed to America. 



Swine-feeding experiments with chick-peas, O. Schmidt (FuJiUng^s Landxo. 

 Ztg., 63 (1914), No. 23, pp. 7J-'/-72.5).— Chick-peas (Cicer arietinmn) were fed 

 to pigs and found to compare favorably with barley meal as a feed, the pigs 

 making somewhat greater gains at a slightly lower cost. 



Influence of meat and bone meal feeding on the chemical composition of 

 the bony framework, J. K. Gjaldb^k (Ber. K. Vet. og Landbohojslcoles Lai. 

 Landokonom. Forsog [Copenhagen'], S3 (1913), pp. 26; ads. in ZentM. Agr. 

 Chem., 43 (1914), ^o. 10-11, pp. 630-632) .—Three 2-month-old pigs were fed 

 three months, No. 1 receiving an ordinary feed of corn, barley, and skim milk, 

 No. 2 receiving in addition 100 gm. per day of bone meal, and No. 3 from 100 

 to 400 gm. of bone meal. The control pig increased in weight from S.l kg. to 

 80.9 kg.. No. 2 from 9 kg. to 28.3 kg., and No. 3 from 10.3 kg. to 20.5 kg. The 

 head of the femur bone was analyzed and the ash, CaO, and P2O5 content found 

 to be greatest in pigs 2 and 3, from which it is concluded that the feeding of 

 98262°— No. 2—15 6 



