8 P.D. 123. 



Summary of Court Cases During the Twelve Months Ending November 30, 1923. 



City or Town 

 New Bedford 

 New Bedford 

 New Bedford 

 Boston 

 "Worcester 

 Quiney 



The dairy industry of Massachusetts is on a fairly stable basis. The price 

 received for milk has been sufficiently satisfactory to keep the dairy farmer 

 milking cows. The volume of milk offered to distributors has been considerably 

 in excess of previous years. The good retail demand for milk has absorbed 

 a part but not all of the extra offerings. With short dry pastures and advancing 

 feed prices, production dropped rapidly in the fall. The demand for milk 

 keeps up. All of which justifies a higher sales price for milk. Although 

 prices have been inviting, some farmers have been compelled to decrease the 

 size of their herds, due to the high price and scarcity of labor. The indica- 

 tions are that only the less profitable cows have been sold. Thus the volume 

 of production has kept up with fewer but more efficient cows. With a keen 

 demand and a not too plentiful supply of milk, prices are likely to hold their 

 own, to the advantage of the farmer, provided feed prices do not advance 

 too rapidly. 



With the increased demand for milk on the part of consumers, also appears 

 an interest in high quality milk. Each year sees an increase in amounts of 

 special and certified milks produced. In a few communities milk producers 

 are coming to see the importance of meeting competition of distant milk with 

 freshly produced milk of the highest quality. 



Bovine Tuberculosis. 



The farmers of Massachusetts have responded promptly to the opportunity 

 to have their herds brought under Federal and State supervision in the eradica- 

 tion of bovine tuberculosis. 



The work is moving smoothly and rapidly. There are now 874 herds with 

 19,163 cattle under super\'ision ; of these there are 102 herds with 3,507 cattle 

 fully accredited, and 241 herds with 3,988 cattle are once tested, free of reactors. 

 There are also 81 herds with 1,167 cattle waiting to have the test applied. 

 These figures show a marked advance in the short time since the cooperative 

 agreement Avas entered into. 



Demonstration Sheep Farms. 



The six Demonstration Sheep Farms during 1923 have served the sheep 

 growers in a more complete way than at any time. Nine hundred and forty- 

 three visitors have calleid at the farms and the farm managers have made 466 

 calls at other sheep farms. Fifteen demonstrations have been given at the 

 farms and ten on other farms. These have been on the shearing of sheep, 

 castrating and docking, as well as the blue-stone treatment for parasites. Pure- 

 bred rams have been placed at the head of grade flocks. Assistance has been 

 given at the request of certain growers in selling grade flocks and replacing 

 with pure-bred sheep. Another serA^ce rendered has been examination and 

 study of a flock, diagnosis of parasitic disease and suggestions offered in 

 management of the flock, which has resulted in saving a great many sheep. 



The farms have distributed a limited amount of medicated salt to determine 



^ In cooperation with James 0. Jordan, Milk Inspector of Boston. 



