BUREAU OF AXIMAL IIsDUSTRY. 87 



year there were 9 mature stallions, 11 young stallions, 30 mares and 

 fillies, and 7 geldings (including 3 draft- work geldings), a total of 

 57 animals. Sixteen animals were eliminated from the stud on ac- 

 count of being unsuitable for breeding purposes, and two died. Four 

 of the mature stallions were sent out to various sections of Vermont 

 for use in the Army horse-breeding work. The mare Grief, by 

 Snoqualmie and out of Gertrude, was added to the stud October 31, 

 1918. 



The test in feeding weanling colts grain and hay ad libitum has 

 given excellent results in maximum growth and development without 

 harmful effects. The average daily feed consumed by the colts in 

 this test was as follows: Oats, 8.52 pounds; bran, 3.39 pounds; al- 

 falfa, 3.25 pounds; timothy, 4.91 jx)unds. 



BKKKDIXG IIORSKS OX INDIAN i;i:>i:i:V AliONS. 



At the close of the fiscal year 617 mares had been bred to the 12 

 stallions maintained under the project for breeding horses on Indian 

 reservations, with headquarters at Eagle Butte, S. Dak. 



BREKDING HORSES FOR MILITARY PURPOSES. 



The plan of breeding horses for military purposes which was 

 begun under congressional authority in 1913 was continued under the 

 same terms as before. Seven hundred and eighty -six mares were bred 

 to 33 stallions. 



COTTONSKKD MKAT. 70n TAinr WORK STOCK. 



The test in feeding cotton.^eed meal to work horses and mules at the 

 Beltsville farm, begun during the preceding fiscal year, was con- 

 tinued. Eesults indicate that 1 pound per day per 1,000 pounds live 

 weight is the most satisfactory quantity to feed to work animals. Cot- 

 tonseed meal, like any other high-protein feed, must be fed with care 

 to horses and mules. Harmful eti'ccts were apparent from feeding 

 the meal in large quantities. 



POULTRY INVESTIGATIONS. 



poui.i'itv 1 lii-.nixG. 



Experiments in feeding hens for Qgg laying are in progress at the 

 Beltsville farm in 27 feeding pens, 25 of which contain 30 hens each 

 and 2 contain 50 hens each. The results of 1918 on the high vegetable 

 protein rations were not entirely satisfactory. New experiments are 

 being conducted this year in reducing the amount of the vegetable 

 protein (soy-bean meal, peanut meal, and velvet-bean meal) and in- 

 creasing the animal protein (meat scrap). The mash fed last year 

 contained 10 per cent each of vegetable and animal protein, while 

 this year the new pens receive 15 per cent meat scrap and 5 per cent 

 of the high vegetable protein feed. Up to the close of the fiscal year 

 the egg yield had continued good and had not been adversely aft'ected 

 by the summer weather, as was the case with the ration fed last year. 

 The birds in the pen receiving |>eanut meal have slightly outlaid the 

 others, being followed by those receiving soy-bean meal and volvet- 

 bean meal in the order given. Apparently the ration being used this 



