470 EXPERIMENT STATION KECORD. 



and Merino breeds of sheep have met with difficulty owing to the aversion of 

 one breed for the other. 



Spanish goats, H. H. Mokgan (Daily Cons, and Trade Rpts. [U. »Sf.], 16 

 {1913), No. 283, p. 1167). — It is reported that there are upwards of 3,500,000 

 goats in Spain. These goats weigh from 55 to 96 lbs., and the daily average 

 milk yield is a little over 2 qt. per goat. The animals are said to be fed entirely 

 on dried alfalfa and beans, live to the age of 15 or 16 years, and are productive 

 at the second year. The finest breed of goats and those producing the largest 

 quantity of milk are raised in Murcia Province, south of Alicante. Large num- 

 bers are slaughtered for home consumption and the exports of goat skins are 

 heavy. 



Steamed and dried potatoes, von Hebtzberg-Hohbuch (Deut. Landw. Presse, 

 40 {1913), No. 89, p. 1059). — A brief account of successful swine-feeding trials 

 with steamed and dried potatoes. 



Horse breeding in New Jersey, F. C. Minkler {Ann. Rpt. N. J. Bd. Agr., 

 40 {1912), pp. 29-36). — A general discussion on the type of horse required for 

 New Jersey conditions and on methods of horse improvement through com- 

 munity breeders' associations, etc. 



Distribution of public service stallions enrolled in the counties of Wiscon- 

 sin during 1913, A. S. Alexander {Wisconsin Sta. Circ. Inform. 45, pp. 97). — 

 This circular lists the enrolled stallions in Wisconsin by counties, together 

 with a text of the Wisconsin stallion law, with amendments and additions. It 

 is shown that a total of 1,704 pure-bred stallions and 1,712 grade and mongrel 

 or scrub stallions are enrolled for public service in the State. The number of 

 pure breds is constantly increasing, while the grades and scrubs are decreasing 

 in number. 



The commercial fattening of poultry, A. R. Lee {U. 8. Dept. Agr. Bui. 21, 

 pp. 55, pis. 5). — This is a continuation of work previously noted (E. S. R., 26, 

 p. 76). 



The average cost and amount of feed consumed in fattening 394,744 chickens 

 at the 4 feeding stations during the season of 1911 were, respectively, as fol- 

 lows : Grain per pound of gain, 3.62. 3.33, 4.45. and 4.18 lbs. ; cost of feed per 

 pound of gain, 7.83, 7.2, 7.15, and 8.71 cts. ; total cost per pound of gain, 9.18, 

 9.2, 8.96, and 10.27 cts. The averages in 1912 for 498,681 chickens were: Grain 

 per pound of gain, 4.42, 3.58, 3.72, and 4.98 lbs. ; cost of feed per pound of gain, 

 8.74, 7.7, 6.61, and 9.95 cts. ; total cost per pound of gain, 10.37, 9.69, 7.98, and 

 11.54 cts. 



It was found that "tallow, while making the fat on the birds more pro- 

 nounced, increased the cost of gains. Thick condensed buttermilk in place of 

 tallow produced better results. Oat flour produced greater gains than low- 

 grade wheat flour, but the latter feed produced cheaper gains. Beef scraps 

 added to the buttermilk in a fattening ration did not increase the gain. The 

 addition of condimental feeds did not increase the appetite of the birds or help 

 the gains. Grit is of no value in fattening for any period under 15 days. 

 Under commercial conditions in the Middle West the best results are secured 

 by fattening for about 14 days until the middle of September, and then gradu- 

 ally shortening the period to 6 or 7 days. The birds ate more feed on three 

 feeds a day but used feed more efficiently when fed only twice. 



"Mechanical labor-saving devices reduced the cost of fattening by reducing 

 both the total amount of labor and the proportion of skilled labor required. 

 The portable feeding battery turned out the birds in better condition and re- 

 duced the cost of labor per pound of gain. Gains were produced at 1.89 and 

 1.41 cts., respectively, per pound cheaper in 1911, and 6.3 and 2.68 cts. less in 

 1912 on broilers than on roasters, in 2 experiments. 



