676 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol. 37 



Sheep, D. T. Gray {North Carolina Sta. Rpt. 1916. pp. .94. S5. 56).— Two 

 years' work on the effect of cottonseed meal upon the health and reproductive 

 organs of breeding ewes showed no detrimental results from a ration of cotton- 

 seed meal and cracked corn (2:1). In the work of crossing Barbado sheep 

 with those of the Shropshire and Merino blood, wool from the cross-bred animals 

 was sold the past season for the same price as the wool from the Shropshire 

 and Merino ewes. The Barbado sheep have not proved immune to the ravages 

 of the stomach worm. 



At the Iredell substation a lot of breeding ewes kept in shed or corral during 

 the winter of 1915-16 and fed corn silage and a mixture of cracked corn, cotton- 

 seed meal, and wheat bran (2:1:1) gained about 5 lbs. per head. Another lot 

 pastured during the winter on a meadow from which hay had been cut gained 

 20 lbs. each. The cost of wintering the barn-fed ewes was about twice that of 

 the lot on pasture. In the spring the ewes were all sheared, the wool selling 

 at 36 eta. per pound, or $2.99 per ewe, which was about the cost of wintering 

 ewes on good pasture. 



The management of farm flocks in Idaho, E. J. Iddings {Idaho Bui. 96 

 (1911), pp. to, figs. 9). — This bulletin gives general information and suggestions 

 for the management of farm flocks of sheep under Idaho conditions. 



Are sheep profitable in winter? C. D. Woods (Ifaine Sta. Bui. 260 {1911), 

 pp. 86-92). — A two years' progress report is given of the experiment with grade 

 Hampshire sheep at Highmoor farm, already noted {E. S. R., 33, p. 73). 



On the flock of 73 ewes, 3 rams, and 22 ewe lambs there was a loss of $375.55 

 during the year ended October 31, 1915, the estimated value of manure being 

 credited. During the year ended October 31, 1916, the flock was kept at a loss 

 of $207.56, no account being taken of manure, or allowing full value for manure 

 and omitting overhead charges, a credit balance of about $100 on the flock for 

 1915-16. 



Family performance as a basis for selection in sheep, E. C. Ritzman and 

 C. B. Davknport {U. S. Dept. A(/r., Jour. Agr. Research. 10 {1911), A'o. 2. pp. 

 9S-91). — An outline is given of a system of selection on the basis of family 

 performance being used in sheep-breeding work at the New Hampshire Ex- 

 periment Station. 



By " family " is meant the brothers and sisters and the two parents of the 

 individual being studied. The aim of these breeding experiments being to pro- 

 duce a race of sheep that will combine good qualities of conformation, size, 

 and wool, weights are assigned to various quantities which are thought to be eor- 

 relate<l with the traits that are desired. The families from which Individuals are 

 to be selected are rated according to the average weights obtained in grading. 

 In the selection of breeding rams, if the individual belonging to the "best" 

 family is sickly or has any physiological quality that would interfere with its 

 success as a breeder, the male from the next higher family may be preferred — 

 that is, selection is made primarily on the basis of family performance, but 

 the somatic Insufficiency of the individual is permitted to veto the choice based 

 on family alone. It has been found, however, that the best individuals usually 

 come from the families that stand high in the scale. 



The use of the method is lllustrate<l in a particular case. The experiment 

 has not yet proceeded far enough to show definite results, but the authors stsite 

 that " the uniformity of the progeny and the high quality already shown by 

 the earlier generations give us every reason for confidence that this method of 

 selecting by family performance in place of individnnl traits is well worth the 

 extra trouble it entails, if, indeed, it is not Indispensable." 



