ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 669 



The gain of the average steer was 1.03 lbs. per clay for the 121-day feeding 

 period. The tons of umnure per steer totaled 3.98, valued at $2.44 per ton. 

 The average profit per steer, including the value of the manure, was $6.99. 



These results are not taken as conclusive but merely as Indicative of the 

 average profit which may be expected from the industry. 



Data on sex determination in cattle, R. Pearl and H. M. Parshley (Biol. 

 Bui. Mar. Biol. Lah. Woods Hole, 2^ (1913), No. 4, pp. 205-225).— In this paper 

 statistics collected some years ago (E. S. R., 4, p. 359) at the Maine Experiment 

 Station in regard to the relation between time of service in the astrous period 

 and the sex of the subsequent offspring in domestic cattle are subjected to 

 biometric analysis. It is stated that these statistics are much more extensive 

 than any which have hitherto been collected for the study of this problem in 

 cattle. 



It is shown *' that as the time of coitus approaches the end of the cestrous 

 period there is a progressive increase in the proportion of male young born. 

 In the extrt nie case this increase in the proportion of male births is probably 

 statistically significant and not to be attributed to errors of random sampling. 

 These modifications of the sex ratio can not be attributed to age differences or 

 to any other factor yet suggested." It is thought that possibly " the observed 

 .changes in the sex ratios are correlated with changes in the relative freshness 

 (or staleness) of the ova at the time of fertilization." 



The facts set forth in this paper warrant the breeder in paying attention to 

 the time of service in his cattle breeding operations, but he must not suppose 

 that by so doing he can absolutely control the sex of the offspring, or even ap- 

 proach measurably close to absolute control. He can at best merely modify, 

 over a period of years, the sex ratio in greater or less degree, in the direction 

 which he desires. 



Study of the form and weight of young cattle, K. Indermuhle (Jahresber. 

 Landw. Schule Riitti, 1912-191.i, pp. 129, ISO).— The average weight and body 

 measurements of cattle from six months to three years of age are given. 



The rearing of calves on substitutes for milk fat and milk, B. N. Wale 

 {Jour. Brit. Dairy Farmers' Assoc, 29 (1915), pp. 110-119, pi. 1). — A resumg 

 of English and American experiments along this line. 



Blackface sheep, R. M'Millan (Trans. Highland and Agr. 8oc. Scot., 5. ser., 

 27 (1915), pp. lJi2-158, figs. 8). — An account of the development and char- 

 acteristics of this breed of 'sheep. 



Border Leicester sheep, J. R. C. Smith (Trans. Highland and Agr. Soc. Scot., 

 5. ser., 21 (1915), pp. 159-167, figs. 5). — An account of the development and 

 characteristics of this breed of sbeep. 



" Blanket " system of handling sheep on the Madison National Forest, 

 C. E. Fleming (Nat. Wool Grower, 5 (1915), No. 5, pp. 7-10, figs. 2).— In an 

 experiment conducted by the Forest Service of the U. S. Department of Agricul- 

 ture it was found that the sheep which were run under the old system of close 

 herding and returning to a permanent camp ground each night used 47 per cent 

 more range than the sheep that were allowed to graze quietly and openly and 

 bedded where night overtook them, except when it was clearly impracticable to 

 move the camp due to rainy weather or heavy fogs. The average gain per day 

 of the lambs under the new system was 0.43 lb. compared with 0.3S lb. made 

 iinder the old system. It is estimated that each lamb grazed under the blanket 

 system made a gain of 22* cts. per head more for a period of 90 days than the 

 lambs grazed under the old method. 



It is stated that any of the standard breeds of sheep adapted to western con- 

 ditions may be economically handled under this new system. The fine-wooled 



