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bllities in this latter work. This does not by any means exhaust the possibil- 
ities of research in animal breeding." 
By Prof. W. R. Dodson, Of Louisiana: "As yon know, we have boon working 
for Several years on the immunization of northern cattle to the Texas fever. 
Wo now have on hand a small herd, consisting of nine mothers, grade AngUS, 
purchased nearly three years ago in Clinton, Ilk. Immunized at Baton Rouge, 
and bred to a registered Angus bull purchased at the same place at the same 
time. All of these heifers have calves that have passed through the summer, 
and all have been heavily infested with ticks. Two of the cows have a second 
calf, and all of them will have their second calf this winter. We have ten head 
of grade Hereford calves, raised on the station. The oldest one of these will 
have a calf about February ; several others will come in about May. These 
animals will compare favorably with any to he found on the farms of Illinois, 
Missouri, or elsewhere outside of the barns of the fancy breeder. Of course, 
you are aware that our native cattle all have the fever when they are calves, as 
has been brought out by our work, and while the disease to a considerable 
extent retards the development of the animal, as soon as the ticks are removed 
the animal soon begins to recover from the effects ; and if the ticks are not 
allowed to become excessively abundant the animal thrives apparently as well 
as in the North. Our calves running on the pasture are as fat from the latter 
part of April to the latter part of October as they are in the blue-grass section. 
We have also demonstrated that it is possible to rid our pastures of ticks. This, 
of course, puts a different future before the stockman of the South. Though it 
will be more trouble, and require greater vigilance, I see no reason why the 
intelligent and industrious farmer of the South should not equal or excel the 
northern man in the production of beef and milch cattle. 
" We are not doing anything with other lines of animal breeding. I might 
remind you of the fact that we topped the market at Chicago with some beef 
steers purchased as calves in Illinois, immunized in Louisiana, fattened after 
having been there two years, and reshipped to Chicago." 
By Prof. E. W. Major, of California : " The live-stock work here has been 
started such a short time that we have not had opportunity to carry on any 
breeding experiments so far. At present I am purchasing some hogs. Shall 
have some Berkshires, Poland Chinas, and Tamworths, and shall try some experi- 
ments with these. I am rather looking to see if we can not find a hog that will 
do better in the alfalfa sections than the Poland Chinas. These experiments 
will be largely along the line of feeding, but I expect to do some at the present 
time in cross breeding. We intend to do some experimenting right away in 
poultry breeding. 
"In regard to suggestions, the one that appeals to me most forcibly is this: 
If experiment station workers would start a discussion, it would have to be 
done by correspondence, in regard to the data to be recorded in breeding experi- 
ments. Those of us who are situated so far from the center, and therefore are 
unable to attend many meetings, have little opportunity of discussing the ques- 
tion with other experiment station men and getting in touch with the work they 
are doing." 
Aside from this, the work largely done at several of the stations is familiar 
to the members of this body. The work of the Wisconsin Experiment Station 
in crossing and grading unimproved types of sheep has given striking results 
that have been of practical and scientific value. The provisions for the investi- 
gations of Professor Davenport at the newly equipped laboratory under the 
auspices of the Carnegie Institute is significant of the growing interest in this 
field of inquiry, and the results of these investigations will be looked forward to 
with unusual interest. 
At the Iowa station several lines of animal-breeding work are in progress. 
It is well known that we have no breed of sheep in America adapted to the 
range conditions and meeting the requirements of the range in any adequate 
manner. Sheep raisers in the range territory resort to frequent crossing, 
alternating from the Merino to the coarse-wooled mutton breeds for compactness 
of fleece, ability to graze in large numbers, size, length of staple, and then to 
the Down breeds for improvement of mutton qualities. It is necessary to make 
frequent changes in the use of these types, and there is a lack of uniformity and 
stability in breed characteristics and qualities desired for range conditions. 
We have taken up work in crossing these types with a view to gradually 
evolving something that will meet the requirements of range conditions and 
23880— No. 153—05 m 9 
