Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-12
BREEDING BETTER ANIMALS.

represents a three hundred millicn-dollar
enterprise annually. OF that amount II
has been estimated that u per cent Is
lost, or $45.OO0,Wo. Following an inVesfl-
cation by the animal husbandry division
1t was found that that loss was due TO
about three causes, the most important
of which was blood rings. cause which
can be absolutely prevented on the farm
Within the past few months the divl-
sion prepared a poster with eleven mus
tratlonS and much bold type which Is
designed for. use by farmers generally
and is intended to show without unnee-
essary words the pith of the subject.
1t Is merely question of the advantages
Of infertile eggs over fertile ones. A
blood ring Is a certain stage of the chick
development in the egg. which Is devei-
oped by heat. and which often results
from an egg merely being left in room
during ordinary summer weather.
AS result of the investigation. it
was shown that infertie eggs cannot
have blood rings. and that to secure
lnferIle eggs only neceSSitates remoV-
ing the roosters from the flock. which
does not affect the egg production
The illustrations accompanying this
poster show first an absolutely fresh
egg, and one which 1t is impossible to
tell whether it is fertile or infertile.
Then follows a series of comparative
were obtained by placing a fertile and
an infertile egg in an incubator After
tWenty-fOur hours there was notice.
able spot on the fertile egg. which in
creased. until at the end of seven days
in the incubator the development of the
chick was well under way. The picture
of the infertile egg was the same at
each of the stages shown, and 1t was
claimed that. except for tasting stale
the lnfertile egg, which had been in the
f0y~ for dow
consumption. Accompanying these post
ers is a request that they be hung
in prominent place. as the results
contained in the placard are the re
suits of an extended investigation into
the subject. and are designed to over
come the enormous loss occasioned an
nually by the production of the fertile
egg" These posters are fifteen by
twenty inches. and are designed for
use in public stores and such places.
might be thoroughly covered. a smaller
placard was also printed. which is in
tended to serve as handy reminder
to farmers, to be posted in the hen
house, kitchen or other conspicuous
place.
In speaking Of the work of breeding
animals, Mr.. Rommel said:
In the advance
Progress of that is be
=. m d e n h e
AAA1AoA oAoooth science of animal
breeding it is very important that care
full study should be given to under
lying principles. For scientific study
with animals, the smaller animals, like
guinea pigs. rabbits, mice, rats, ETC..
are generally used for the work, and
the division has large stock, espe.
cially Of guinea pigs. of which there are
about 5000 raised annually for use in
the laboratories. Observations are made
on these animals. and the results OBJ
tanned are applied to the larger animals
under farm conditions"
One of the most important problems
confronting stockbreeders of the United
States at present is the development of
a breed of sheep suitable to range con-
dition. In spite Of the great develop
ment and prosperity of the sheep in
dustry of the west, breeding methods
are not systematic, and most breeders
are continually crossing, the result be-
ing lack of uniformity in the stock,
and. to a certain extent, a failure to
attain as high a standard as would
otherwise be possible. The requirements
of the range are a breed of sheep thai
will yield a profitable clip of wool,
produce good mutton lambs and stand
flocking in large numbers. Expert
ments being carried on by the division
in Wyoming include not only each OF
those three points of advantage, but
an effort is being made to secure them
in one breed. In addition to the worl,
being carried on there. another flock is
maintained at the Morgan horse farm. il
Vermont. of SouthdoWnS, and still anOth
err at the farm at Beltsville. Md. where
experiments are being carried on in cross
ing several breeds.
Another line of work being carried OF
by the division is in connection with tn,
feeding of beef cattle in Alabama
THE importance of this work. sai(
Mr.. Rommel, touches not only Alabam,
and other parts of the south, but tn,
entire country as well.
X x
1.-THE United States faces a beef cattl,
shortage. The cattle ranges of the ives
are every year being
Southern Lands diminished in area b,
oAA, settlement. In tn,
AoA 0oIs'S' south, east of the Mis-
sissippi river, are enormous areas of prac
tically idle land. suitable for pasture
where beef cattle can be raised and fat
tened
Other lines of work being carried or
by the division include experiments in
hog breeding, poultry Investigations, will
the object of securing breed of hen:
which will lay more eggs. and work IL
connection with animal nutrition. Since
January I, 1911, the division has haG
charge of the work of passing on the
sufficiency of the pedigree certificates OF
animals imported for breeding purposes
From the beginning of the work unit
June 80, 1912, certificates of pure breeding
We're issued for 3,136 horses, 2,O24 cattle
LAO sheep and 81 hogs.
The animal husbandry work of the blu.
reau of animal industry began in July
1901. with the appointment of the present
animal husbandman as expert in charge
The duties of the Office for two years
were principally the compilation of in.
formation pertaining to animal husbandry
attendance at stock shows and breeders
meetings and answering correspondence
The first independent Investigation in an.