6 P.D. 123 



Horse Contests 

 Assistance was again given in conducting commercial horse shows at 

 Springfield and Boston, and also the dynamometer contest at Springfield 

 and Worcester for the determination of the pulling power of draft horses. 

 The entries were larger and the contests more keen than ever before. 



Sheep Raising Stimulated 



Considerable stimulus was given to the sheep industry of Massachusetts 

 by bringing from the West five carloads of western ewes, totaling between 

 eleven and twelve hundred. This project was worked out through the co- 

 operation of a committee of sheep raisers. The sheep were distributed 

 mostly in small lots throughout the State. A few were sold to farmers in 

 nearby States. The results for the most part were very satisfactory, as 

 they were purchased on a low market and were distributed to the farmers 

 at cost for prices far below the actual cost of raising them. In many in- 

 stances the early lambs for the Easter market and the wool clip were suffi- 

 cient to pay for the cost of these ewes. 



Assistance was also given to many local farmers in disposing of their 

 surplus sheep and lambs. The Easter market for lambs in the spring of 

 1931 was somewhat lower than the previous year, yet it was to the advan- 

 tage of the farmers to sell his small lambs at that time rather than to wait 

 for the summer or fall market. This offers one of the best possible outlets 

 for Massachusetts produced lamb. Often the price received for the lamb 

 is equal to more than the cost of the breeding ewe. There is a good oppor- 

 tunity for expansion on many Massachusetts farms by adding a small flock 

 of sheep. The labor involved secures excellent returns. 



Massachusetts Wool Pool Popular 



The wool pool for 1931 has proved of unusual interest as compared to 

 previous years. Nearly 30.000 pounds of raw wool was received from 

 approximately 250 producers scattered throughout the State. There were 

 many new members in the pool owing to the fact that it offers the best means 

 of disposing of locally raised wool at satisfactory prices. 



All of the wool was made into virgin wool blankets which were returned 

 to the farmers after the payment of the cost of manufacture and handling. 

 A greater variety of colors and styles were manufactured than in previous 

 years, which has added to the details of the management, but has resulted 

 in greater satisfaction and better market for the finished products. 



The actual return for raw wool marketed through blankets has been most 

 excellent and probably represents a greater difference compared with the 

 price received at the market for raw wool than ever before. The average 

 return through the blanket plan is between fifty and sixty cents per pound 

 on the raw wool basis, whereas the farmers were offered, by country buyers, 

 between fifteen and eighteen cents for the wool at the time of shearing. 

 The quality of the blankets is so superior and the price so reasonable that 

 the consumer benefits as well as the producer. 



Poultry Certification Work 



Fifty-three flocks were certified for the 1931 hatching season. All birds 

 were banded after being inspected for productive capacity, health and vigor 

 and reasonable conformity to standard requirements. Later in the season 

 two other inspections were made of all flocks to cheek on the weight, shape 

 and color of the eggs used for hatching. The total number of birds inspected 

 was 54,395. 



The 1931-1932 hatching season inspection work started in October, and 

 up to November 30, 1931, ten flocks were inspected, containing 10,862 birds. 

 Interest in the work seems to be as great as in former years. A large number 

 of inquiries are received for the official list of certified breeders. A fee which 

 covers the approximate cost of the inspection service is charged for this 

 work. 



