ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 469 



In the winter feeding of steers on bay from these pastures the weights of the 

 animals were retained to better advantage than those fed oat, wheat, and barley 

 straw In various proportions. 



The average pasture period for milch cows was 175 days; the feed number 

 171,187; the milk yield per day per hectare 19.47 kg.; the butter yield per day 

 per hectare 0.G8 kg. ; the average increase in weight per cow 41.6 kg. ; and the 

 average value of skim milk and butter proceeds per hectare in 180 days 401.38 

 marks. 



It is estimated that the average annual proceetls per hectare of pasture land 

 was 387.68 marks and of tillable land 899.74 marks. 



Color in Shorthorn cattle, E. N. Wentwobtii (Amer. Breeders Mag., 4 

 {1913), No. 4, pp. 202-208, fig. l).—ln commenting on the theories on color 

 inheritance advanced by several investigators, the author calls attention to the 

 possible sources of error in computation from matings. He estimates the possi- 

 ble error at from 35 to 40 per cent. These errors have arisen through incorrect 

 recording of colors, largely because of color fashions, and the tendency of 

 breeders to report only fashionable colors so far as possible. He considers roan 

 a mosaic, believing it to be " a simple dominant pattern consisting of an irregu- 

 lar arrangement of red and white hairs. It varies in amount of white within 

 itself, hinting at the fact that it is probably not a single unit but complex." 



Beport of the American Bison Society (Awn. Rpt. Amcr. Bison Soc, 6 

 (1913), pp. 61, figs. 18). — The report of this society, whose object is the perma- 

 nent preservation and increase of the American bison, states that a census of 

 the American bison in North America in Januarj^ 1913, indicates that there are 

 captive in the United States 1,651 head, in Canada 1,303, and wild in North Amer- 

 ica 499, making a total of 3,453. A herd has recently been established on the 

 Niobrara Reservation in northern Nebraska. 



The breeding of caracul sheep, A. Golf (Tropenpflanzer, 17 (1913), No. 11, 

 pp. 593--602). — In this article the author outlines the general advantages of the 

 caracul breed of sheep, both as to wool-bearing qualities and native hardiness, 

 and discusess the advantages ensuing from the crossing of these on the native 

 sheep of Dutch East Africa. 



Strange sheep of Asiatic Russia, C. C. Young (Ainer. Breeders Mag., 4 

 (1913), No. 4, pp. 184-192, figs. 6). — An account of the native sheep of Asiatic 

 Russia. 



These sheep are mostly brown or black in color and are noted for their 

 great hardiness and digestive abilities. There are 2 principal types, the fat- 

 rumped (Kurdiuk) type (Ovis steatopyga) and the broad-tailed species (0. 

 platyura). The caracul breed belongs to the latter. The purpose of the in- 

 troduction of this breed into the United States is for fur raising and to Im- 

 prove the hardiness and mutton qualities of the short-wool ed breeds. The fat- 

 rumped type is said to be the heaviest of all known sheep. It is red in color, 

 has coarse stiff wool like our mountain sheep, and " the tail consists of only 

 3 or 4 vertebrae, generally atrophied, with 2 immense symmetrical fat lobules 

 covering the buttocks and extending below the kneos, weighing from 20 to 40 

 lbs., long pendulous ears, decidedly convex nose, and a very large head." 



The sheep and wool industry, H. D. Baker (Daily Cons, and Trade Rpts. 

 [U. S.], 16 (1913), No. 289, pp. 1256, 1257).— An account of the breeding of fat- 

 tailed sheep in Afghanistan and of the economic value of this breed in provid- 

 ing food, grease, and wearing apparel to the natives. 



On account of its good quality of wool the Afghanistan sheep are occasion- 

 ally crossed with Indian sheep and the wool of these cross breeds appears to 

 be of fine quality and long. It is reported that attempts to cross the fat-taUed 



