ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 271 



raised by the skim mill^ method was $50.77, and their average weight per head 

 966 lbs., making the average cost of production per hvmdredweight $5.24. In 

 addition, the average value of butter and skim milk produced by the cows was 

 $61.12. and the average cost of their feed per head per year $33.84. This leaves 

 a profit of $27.28 per head for the cows on the skim milk lot and also a differ- 

 ence of $1.49 per hundredweight from the baby beeves. 



" The average age at the time of marketing was 532 days for the suckled lot 

 and 537 days for the skim-milkers. . . . The quality of the baby beeves produced 

 by the two methods was practically the same and the skim-milk lots brought 

 the same jirices as the suckled lots when put on the market." 



Australian chilled beef, H. D. Baker {Mo. Cons, and Trade Rpts. [U. S.I, 

 1910, No. 357, pt. 2, pp. 77-79). — An account of the shipments of chilled beef 

 from Australia. The Liuley process for chilling beef is described, and there is 

 a brief note on a new dry -air process of preservation. 



Some experiments in grazing and soiling, S. E. McClendon { Louisiana 

 Stas. Bill. 12S, pp. 3-16). — This contains brief reports of several tests with 

 forage crops and other feeds for pigs. 



The average daily gains per head and day were as follows : On oat pasture 

 0.37 lb., in a second exi^eriment on oat pasture 0.21 lb., on rape 0.12 lb., on rape 

 and oats 0.12 lb., on sweet potatoes 1.23 lbs., on carrots 0.57 lb., on beets 0.42 

 lb., in a second experiment with beets 0.287 lb., and on beets and corn meal 

 1.14 lbs. The cost per pound of gain with several feeds was as follows : 

 Using rice bran 6.9 cts., rice polish 5 cts., in a second experiment with rice polish 

 4.6 cts., rice polish and molasses 5.5 cts., and grazing oats about 4 cts. As these 

 tests were undertaken in different years and under different conditions these 

 figures do not represent the comparative value of the rations fed. 



Information concerning the Colorado carriage horse breeding station, 

 J. O. Williams (Colorado Sta. Bui. 166. pp. 3-12, figs. 5). — This contains an 

 account of the history and objects of the experiment in horse breeding now in 

 progress at the Colorado Station in cooperation with the Bureau of Animal In- 

 dustry of this Department. The pedigrees of the animals now in service as 

 foundation stock are given. 



Digestion experiments with poultry, J. M. Bartlett (Maine Sta. Bui. 181f, 

 pp. 317-336, figs. 2). — Digestion coefficients of a number of feeds obtained with 

 cocks, hens, and cajions are reported. The feces were collected with a rubber 

 sheet attached to the fowl. In the case of one capon the feces and urine were 

 collected separately by means of an artificial anus established in the body walls, 

 but this method was abandoned because the bird was in an abnormal condition, 

 though the results obtained compared favorably with the results when the 

 separation was made by chemical means. 



The results show that the digestion coefficient of most nutrients did not 

 materially differ from those obtained with other farm animals, except that 

 poultry digested very little crude fiber. The nutrients of wheat, especially 

 ether extract, did not seem to be as well handled as most other concentrated 

 grains. Bran, though much in favor as a poultry feed, showed a low digesti- 

 bility. A mixture of equal parts of corn meal and fine cut clover was more 

 digestible than bran and at present prices more economical, providing of course 

 that the poultrymau produces his own clover. An exclusive diet of wheat had 

 a deranging effect upon the digestive system of the birds. Corn was con- 

 sidered as making a valuable grain for iwultry because of its palatability and 

 high digestibility, though it can not be fed alone as it is too concentrated a feed 

 and also deficient in protein. Oats and India wheat were found to be desirable 

 grains and may be used to some extent to give variety to the ration, though 



77543°— No. 3—11 6 



