870 EXPERIMENT STATIOIST RECORD. 



Good results can be obtained with straw and grain, although the addition of 

 roots or silage improves a ration. Hay and oat sheaves give larger gains than 

 straw. Steers fed loose in a box stall do better than when tied. Dehorning 

 gives little or no setback and makes loose feeding practicable. While steers may- 

 be fattened successfully outdoors in winter in Manitoba if sheltered from the 

 wind, somewhat greater gains may be secured if fed in a stable. The advantage 

 of feeding oats, barley, or low-grade wheat to steers over marketing through 

 the elevator was demonstrated. 



Cattle-feeding experiments, W. Bruce (Edinh. and East of Scot. Col. Agr. 

 Rpt. 31 {1913), pp. 16). — This is a continuation of work previously noted (E. S. 

 R. 29, p. 272). Three lots of 16 steers each, weighing approximately 825 

 lbs., were fed for a period of 133 days on the following average daily ration 

 per head: Lot 1, 3.95 lbs. linseed cake, 3.78 lbs Bombay cotton cake; lot 2, 

 5 lbs. bran, 3.78 lbs. cotton cake; and lot 3, 7.73 lbs. of a mixture consisting of 

 cotton cake, bran, linseed cake, decorticated cotton cake, and maize meal, 

 2:3:1:1:1. In addition all the lots received an average daily allowance of 

 102 lbs. swedes and 7.78 lbs. oat Ftraw per head. 



It is estimated that lot 1 received 14.19 (Kellner) starch equivalents daily; 

 lot 2, 13.7; lot 3, 14.12; and that the balance available for fattening purposes 

 after 6 units were deducted for maintenance was in the proportion of 100: 

 94.01 : 99.08 for the respective lots. The average daily gain was in the propor- 

 tion of 100 : 98.8 : 100.13. 



The total gain in weight per head was for lot 1, 270.4 lbs. ; lot 2, 267.3 lbs. ; 

 and lot 3, 270.8 lbs. In dressing percentages the bran-fed lot was 0.9 per cent 

 higher than the other lots, the result conforming to results in former trials. 



The sheep of Bosnia and Herzeg-ovina, M. jN&hmedbasic {Mitt. Landw. 

 Lehrkanz. K. K. Hochsch. Bodenkul. Wien, 2 {1913), No. 2, pp. 307-330) .—This 

 reports studies on the body characteristics, skeletal measurements, and milk, 

 wool, and mutton utility value of the sheep of Bosnia and Herzegovina {Ovis 

 strepsiceros ) . 



Fecundity of sheep, J. R. Ainsworth-Davis and D. Turner {X. Cong. 

 Inteniat. Agr. Gand, 1913, Sec. 3, Question 4, pp. 5). — With the object of testing 

 the extent of inheritance of the " twinning faculty " in sheep, 12 Oxford Down 

 twin ewes were secured by the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, and 

 bred to a pedigree Oxford Down ram twin. Six of the ewes were mixed twins, 

 i. e., one of each sex ; and 6 were ewe twins, i. e., both females. 



From the 3 seasons during which the trials were conducted " all the twins 

 produced in 1910 and 1911 were bom by the ewes from mixed twins. This 

 was not confirmed, however, in 1912. The twins were mostly mixed, and 

 there was no case of ram twins in the 3 years. The ewes of lot 1 (mixed 

 twins) produced throughout, taking twins and singlets together, a much higher 

 percentage of ewe lambs than ram lambs. The ewes of lot 2 (ewe twins) 

 gave birth to a much higher percentage of ram lambs." 



Due to the paucity of the experimental flock, no definite conclusions are to 

 be drawn. However, the work is to be continued and the line of research 

 broadened. 



Annual wool review for 1913 with estimate of domestic wool clip of 

 1913 and other statistical tables, W. J. Battison {Bui. Nat. Assoc. Wool 

 Manfrs., ///^ {191^), No. 1, pp. 1-63, pi. 1). — This is a resume of the present 

 wool situation in the United States, with special reference to the effects of 

 the Simmons-Underwood tariff act which puts wool on the free list. Statisti- 

 cal data are given on the number of sheep for 1913 ; the wool product ; fleece ; 

 pulled and scoured wool; value of wool products; exports and imports; the 

 slaughter and movement of sheep ; the course of prices ; comparative prices of 



