30 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



The appearance in this country of commissions from Europe 

 to buy pure-bred cattle to restock depleted areas is indeed a 

 hopeful sign for the breeders of these animals, and impresses 

 us anew with the fact that more pure-bred animals should be 

 produced, as there always seems to be a demand for these at 

 prices which are generally profitable. 



Production of Food Animals. 

 It is very gratifying to note the increasing interest being 

 taken by our farmers in the production of beef cattle, sheep 

 and swine, and while no definite figures are available, the in- 

 crease is very considerable. Quite a number of former dairy- 

 men have given up their dairy cattle and replaced them with 

 beef animals. While a few years ago it was distinctly rare to 

 see a Hereford or Angus in our State, it now has become quite 

 a common sight. Sheep, too, have been added in quite large 

 numbers, and would undoubtedly increase to a much greater 

 extent, provided there were more adequate protection afforded 

 them. 



Poultry Situation. 



The curtailment in all lines of poultry production, brought 

 about in 1917 by the scarcity and extreme high prices of feeds, 

 continued into 1918, with the result that there is now less 

 poultry in the State than at any time since poultry products 

 became an important source of revenue to Massachusetts 

 farmers. This situation is to be deplored, yet in effects to the 

 present time it is not as bad as it appears from the point of 

 view of diminished poultry production. 



Most of the labor diverted from poultry keeping has been as 

 profitably employed in other lines, much of it in essential war 

 work. Nor does the lower production of this year signify a 

 more pessimistic attitude among poultry keepers, or less favor- 

 able conditions than last year. It is now generally recognized 

 by experienced poultrymen in this and adjoining States that, 

 while circumstances created by war conditions called for the 

 most conservative management, most poultry keepers went 

 beyond this and cut production too much. Few saw this, 

 however, until the 1918 hatching season was well advanced, 



