12 P.D. 123 



Horses 

 Members of the Division assisted in conducting the first Commercial 

 Horse Show at Eastern States Exposition, Springfield. They also helped 

 with the Dynamometer Contest at the Springfield and Worcester Fairs. 



Poultry 



The Divison co-operated in the work of the Massachusetts Association 

 of Certified Poultry Breeders by employing Mr. C. E. Brett for a short 

 period to assist in the work of flock inspection. The Association is doing 

 excellent work with the flocks by culling, testing for white diarrhea, and 

 supervising of the trap testing. The result of the work is beneficial to 

 the poultry industry of the entire state. The following brief report was 

 made by Mr. Oliver S. Flint, Manager of the Massachusetts Association 

 of Certified Poultry Breeders: — 



"The Association became a live organization in the fall of 1924. Ac- 

 tive work began the latter part of November. During that season 26,000 

 birds in 43 flocks were individually handled and banded with Associa- 

 tion bands. Although the Association began in a modest way with no 

 extensive amount of publicity, it enjoys the reputation of being the best 

 Association of its kind in the country today. Approximately 400,000 

 day-old chicks were sold by members the first year with an average mor- 

 tality of 5%. 



"In September, 1925, certification of birds was begun for the 1925-26 

 season. Interest had grown to such an extent that 30 new members were 

 admitted and the total number of birds banded increased to 42,000. On 

 January 1, 1926, the Association also started their Record of Perform- 

 ance work which pertains to the records made by birds being trap-nested 

 on the owners' farms. The rules are patterned very largely after the 

 plans of the Canadian Record of Performance which is working out so 

 successfully. Flocks entered are subject to unannounced inspection at 

 any time by some authorized person. Ten members availed themselves 

 of this branch of the Association work and 2,600 birds were entered. The 

 largest flock had 721, the smallest 23 birds. More than 700 birds will 

 have records of 200 eggs or more. The highest record noticed to date 

 was 297 eggs. 



"During the past season 27,093 birds have been banded, and it is an- 

 ticipated that the work planned for the remainder of this season will 

 unquestionably bring the number certified for the j'ear to over 55,000. 



"Last season over 500,000 day-old chicks were sold by members. The 

 average mortality was 11.5%. 



"The Association was formed to promote the poultry industry of the 

 State by encouraging better poultry practices and developing sources 

 of superior quality chicks, eggs and breeding stock." 



Sheep and Wool 



The Division assisted in the organization of the New England Sheep 

 and Wool Growers' Association and the Massachusetts Sheep Breeders' 

 Association. The purpose of both these organizations is to encourage 

 the growing of moi-e Sheep. A number of very successful meetings were 

 held and interest in Sheep raising seems to be increasing. 



Mr. C. D. Richardson, Sheep Specialist for the Department, submits 

 the following report: 



"Our activities in the interest of sheep husbandry have covered sev- 

 eral lines of work during the year. 



"In the early spring we were able to assist the farmers in selling sev- 

 eral hundred early spring lambs,, at an average price of 30 cts. a pound 

 live weight. Quite a few of these lambs weighed from 35 to 50 lbs. There 

 is a growing demand for early native lambs and, although the number 

 in this State has increased, several carloads are shipped in to Massachu- 

 setts markets each year from outside the State. 



