768 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol. 37 



made during the year to improve the live stock of the island by the further im- 

 portation of pure-bred sires. New methods of feeding were also taken up, and 

 all animals of the station were put upon definite rations. 



The work with horses sought to improve the native stock by crossing with 

 Morgan sires. The average weight of native horses is 460 lbs. They are har- 

 dier under local conditions, however, than imported animals. By crossing the 

 size has been increased, and the crosses developed appear hardy on native pas- 

 tures without extra feed. Native pasturage alone will not support Morgan 

 horses. In a feeding experiment with two Morgan horses comparing alfalfa 

 hay with Para grass, the former possessed a superior feeding value, although 

 it can not be fed in Guam in the quantity and as successfully as in colder cli- 

 mates. For the station horses 5 lbs. of alfalfa hay and 40 lbs. of Para grass per 

 day gave good results. 



Native bulls average 690 lbs. and cows 512 lbs. The crossbred cattle com- 

 pare favorably in hardiness with the native cattle, and the improvement by 

 crossbreeding is most satisfactory. 



During the year two Berkshire boars were imported. The stock in hand had 

 deteriorated through inbreeding and parasitic infestation. A feeding experi- 

 ment was carried out with two lots of four pigs each, comparing a ration of 

 breadfruit and coconuts with corn and sliorts. The animals were fed for 140 

 aays. The pigs on the breadfruit-coconut ration made an average daily gain 

 per head of 0.388 lb. at a cost of 11.58 t ts. per pound. Those on the corn and 

 shorts ration made an average daily gain of 0.45 lb. at a cost per pound of gain 

 of 11.09 cts. Attention is called to the high cost of gain and the necessity of 

 forage crops to lessen the cost. For pasturage Para grass was found to be 

 very satisfactorj' for hogs, and with a light supplementary ration of breadfruit 

 and coconuts the animals remaine<l in excellent condition. 



The work with goats during the year was much hampered by parasites. 



The crossbreeding of poultry is .showing good results. The best record of 

 six native hens was 42 eggs per year, while that of six hens of the Brown I^eg- 

 horn-native cross was 127 eggs. In feeding rice hulls to young chicks, death 

 from crop impaction resulted in some cases, and it was found advantageous to 

 use unhulled light rice in.stead. In a comparative test of brooders, it was 

 demonstrated that for the first six weeks after hatching the chicks should be 

 kept off the ground. An exi>eriment was made comparing an imported grain 

 ration made up of wheat, corn, and oats (2:1:1) with a Guam-grown ration made 

 up of rough rice, a dry mash being used in each case. Two lots of 12 each of 

 Brown Leghorns and two lots of cro.ssbred fowls were enfplnyed. The experi- 

 ment ran from September 1 to June 30. The Brown Leghorns on iiniH»rted feeds 

 laid 719 eggs, on native feeds 842. The crossbred fowls on imported feed laid 

 714 eggs and on native feed i)15 eggs. In feeding grate<l coconut to chicks under 

 6 weeks old. the inclusion of more than 5 per cent in the ration invariably pro- 

 ducetl diarrhea, while 15 per cent or more caused a total loss of all chicks. 



[Animal husbandry studies at the Missouri Experiment Station] (Missouri 

 Stn. Bui. Ul (Wn), pp. 21-21, JfS). — This progre.ss report includes, among 

 others, the following studies: 



The use of nitroyenous concentrates and hcav}/ and light rations of silage for 

 fattening tvo-year-old steers, by H. O. Allison. — The test indicates that the cost 

 of fattening cattle can be greatly reduced by the extensive use of corn silage 

 with nitrogenous concentrates. 



The value of sour milk and beef scrap in rations for groiring chirks, and the 

 coat of growing chicks, by H. L. Kempster. — At the end of the first three weeks 

 100 chicks with skim milk in the ration weighed 21.4 lbs. at a cost of 2.76 lbs. 

 of feed per pound of gain, the beef scrap chicks weighed 15.1 lbs. at a cost of 



