ably. The pregnancy was usually of 3 or 4 months' duration, least often as much as 8 or 9 months. The weight of the uterus with the foetus was, in the case of 3 or 4 months' pregnancy, 9 to 15 lbs. The uterus of cows not in calf averaged 21⁄2 lbs. The extra weight of the uteri due to pregnancy was 33.000 lbs. The total number of foeti weighed 11 850 lbs. If these results be applied to the whole country, as may reasonably be done, seeing that similar or the same percentages have been obtained in many other slaughter houses, it follows that 298 546 cows in calf are aunually slaughtered in Germany; consequently over 1000 tons of meat are lost by the destruction of the foeti. The writer considers that German farmers would be able to produce and supply all the meat required by the population, if fewer pregnant cows were slaughtered. In order to attain this end, Dr. Buchem recommends the declaration of the meat of pregnant animals and the legal application of breach of warranty to cases of the sale of cows in an advanced state of gestation. 555 - Influence of Alpine Grazing and Weather on the Milk-Yield of Cows. ULMANSKY: Über den Einfluss der Alpung und der meteorologischen Faktoren auf die wirtschaftlichen Leistungen von 27 Kühen der Anstaltsherde in Rotholz, Tirol. Mitteilungen der Landwirtschaftlichen Lehrkanzeln der K. K. Hochschule für Bodenkuliar in Wien, Vol. 1, Part 3, pp. 339-391. Vienna, January 15, 1913. During the summers of 1910 and 1911, the writer made fortnightly test milkings and determinations of the fat content of the milk of 27 cows at the Rotholz Provincial Agricultural Institute in the Tyrol. At the same time, the meteorological conditions were closely observed, in order to determine whether they had any influence upon the cows' performance. The animals belonged to the grey-brown mountain breed and spent the greater part of the summers in question on an Alpine meadow, only 6 cows remaining in the valley. All the cows were weighed at the beginning and end of the grazing period, and the weight of their calves at birth was ascertained. From the tables and diagrams giving the milk yield and fat content and also the different meteorological factors (temperature. atmospheric pressure, precipitation, etc.), practically no regular influence of the latter upon the amount of milk or the fat content of the milk can be determined. Snow was the only factor which reduced the milk yield. The cows which had grazed on the alp gave a little less milk than those which had been kept on the valley pastures, but the fat content of their milk was slightly higher. 556 The Variations in the Composition and Properties of the Milk from the Individual Cow. ECKLES, C. H., and SHAW, ROSCOE H. U. S. Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Animal Industry, Bulletin 157. Washington, 1913. The writers investigated the milk of 7 cows of different ages and breeds during about a fortnight (sometimes also for a shorter period), in order to ascertain the composition of the milk and the variations in the protein, sugar and fat content, as shown by the Reichert-Meissl, iodine, and saponification values and the melting points. The details. are given in tables. 557 The Milking Tests of Tyrolese Cattle-Breeding Associations. KUBRAT: in Wiener Landwirtschaftliche Zeitung, Year 63, No. 24, pp. 292-293. Vienna, March 22, 1913. This article glves the data collected during a period of five years, and referring to the different breeds of cattle kept in the Tyrol. 558 · TELSCHOW: in The Moscow Sheep Breeders' Congress and Exhibition. Zeitschrift für Schafzucht, Part 3, pp. 49-57. Hannover, March 1913. In October 1912, a Sheep-breeding Congress for the promotion of this industry in Russia was held at Moscow in connection with an exhibition of sheep, which included a scientific section and one devoted to demonstrations connected with the wool industry. During the sittings of the Congress, at which the writer was present, much stress was laid on the fact that Russia did not require any more to import sheep, or in any case only to a limited extent. There are, at the present time, 87 million sheep in the country; these may be divided into two categories, producing fine and coaise wool respectively. Of the first type there are 6 millions, including different breeds of Merinos. The other 81 millions consist of short-tailed, fat-rumped, broad-tailed and long-tailed sheep, of which the last are bred for meat, milk and fat and also for their fur. From the information supplied to the Congress, it appeared that sheep-breeding had only declined in the districts where pure bred Merinos were kept. The proportion of sheep to the population varies in different districts: in some there are 30 sheep per inhabitant; in others 200, this very high figure occurs in places remote from centres of communication, and it was part of the work of the Congress to open up such districts. The Russian Merino sheep, to which the writer devoted special attention, is a typical exclusively wool-producing animal. As flocks of Merinos only occur isolated in Germany and the German breeder's aim is totally different from that of the Russian farmer, there is no question of importing Merinos into Russia from Germany. English breeds and their crosses have not proved very successful in Russia, so that breeders in that country have to resort, more or less, to the systematic improvement of the numerous native breeds of sheep. Of the many breeds exhibited, the writer decribes the Kurdjuck and Wallachian breeds. The large Kurd juck sheep; is a native of South Russia, and belongs to the fat-rumped type; it is reared for meat and fat only, as its fur is poor, but it is resistant and thrifty. It reaches its full size at the age of 6 months. The measurements taken by the writer of an adult ram SHEEP PIGS were as follows: height at withers 35 inches, breadth of chest 9 in.. depth of chest 15.3 in., total length, without cushion of fat, 3 ft 0.6 in., with fat cushion, 3ft 4.5 in., the latter can weigh up to 33 lbs. M, Telschow opines that this breed would also be profitable in Germany, especially if crossed with the native breeds, and would thrive in heath districts, where the food conditions are very variable. These sheep are also suitable for crossing with the South-West African fattailed breed. Many crosses have been succcessfully made in Russia, especially with Merinos. Wallachian sheep are chiefly bred for their fur, and in addition to producing the valuable Pollschu ram fur, they also furnish a good deal of meat. The writer is of opinion, that these sheep might be kept with advantage also in Germany, and after giving a short account of the many exhibits dealing with sheep breeding, which were shown in the Wool Industry Section, he expresses the hope that one day, on the occasion of such a Sheep Exhibition, an International Sheep Breeder's Congress may also be held in Germany. 559 The Improvement of the "Mangalicza" Breed of Pigs in Hungary. KOVÁCSY, BÉLA, in Mezőgazdasági Szemele, Year XXXI, No. 3, pp. 172-173. Budapest, March 1913. This breed is much prized in Hungary for its fat-producing qualities and its adaptation to the conditions of climate, soil, and food obtaining in that country. It has, however, the serious defects of not being sufficiently prolific or early maturing and to these causes must be attributed the exhaustion of the Mangalicza breed. It was therefore necessary to cross it with another stock, which without altering the qualities which rerder these pigs indispensable to Hungary, would at the same time increase their prolificacy and accelerate their growth. The necessary qualities have been found in the Lincolnshire breed; this was introduced for the first time and exhibited at a Show of breeding stock held in Hungary two years ago. Of the various English breeds of pigs, the Lincolnshire is the one which fattens best, and most resembles the Mangalicza in its shape and curly, white hair. Further, the crossing experiments made during this short time already showed that the cross-breds of the first generation fulfilled the wishes of the breeders in every respect; the animals developed more quickly and were more prolific without in any way losing their property of easy fattening. On the contrary, with the same food, they attained a heavier weight than pure-bred Mangalicza pigs. Many Hungarian breeders, encouraged by these results, began to turn their attention to Mangalicza-Lincolnshire crosses. The following information has been given by two breedeis respecting Margalicza crosses: At Balatonföldvár, M. Márkus kept pure bred Mangalicza and Mangalicza XLincolnshire pigs in the same herd and on the same rations. The average weight of the pure bred young pigs when 82 months old was 119 lbs., while that of the Mangalicza X Lincolnshire pigs of the same age was 165 lbs.; the hybrids thus weighed 46 lbs. more than the others, which represents a difference in value of 17s. 5d. per head. The breeder considers that, when the pigs are one year old, the difference in their weight will amount to from 77 to 79 lbs. per head in favour of the improved Hungarian breed. At Kajdacs, M. Blascsok selected 328 young cross-breds, of which the weight, at the age of 6 weeks, was from 35 lbs. to 55 lbs. Their weight at 6 months was 132 lbs.; they were used for breeding purposes at the age of 11 to 12 months. The castrated pigs weighed 550 lbs. per pair, at 14 months, and gained 392 lbs. in 4 months, while pure-bred Mangalicza animals only weighed 484 lbs. per pair when 2 years old, and only gained 345 lbs. during the same time and with the same rations. On the writer's farm, cross-bred pigs weighed from 220 to 264 lbs. the pair at the age of 6 2 months and from 282 to 330 lbs. when 7 1⁄2 months old. It is very difficult to acclimatize the pure-bred Lincolnshire in Hungary, especially when it is first imported; many animals have to be rejected; but after the first year, they often prove excellent breeders. The sows are very prolific and rear their young very well; the latter develop rapidly. 560 A Contribution to the Knowledge of the Length of Pregnancy in Goats. MACHENS in Berliner Tierarztliche Wochenschrift Year 29, No. 10, pp.187-189. Berlin, March 6, 1913. 144 animals were the subjects of these investigations. Some of the goats belonged to the Harz breed, others were crosses between native goats and Harz, Saanen, and Toggenburg animals. The length of the period of pregnancy, which varied with the age of the goats, was from 142 to 164 days, from which fact the writer draws the conclusion that the variations hitherto allowed for were too slight. GOATS FARM ENGINEERING. 561- Trial of Bone-Mills. KEISER: Arbeiten der Deutschen Landwirtschafts-Gesell schaft, Part 237. Berlin, 1913. The competition held by the German Agricultural Society (Deutsche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft) on July 7 and 8, 1912, in the Central Poultry-breeding Establishment of the Chamber of Agriculture for the Province of Saxony has shown that decided progress has been made since the competition held in 1909. The object of these bone mills is to reduce bones, both raw and steamed or boiled, to a form suitable to be used as food for animals (poultry, pigs, etc). AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS Four hand machines and two power driven machines were tested. The tests were conducted as follows: firstly half a pound of bones of different kinds were given to each machine and the time each took to grind them was noted Then a dynamometer was connected with the machines and observations were made as to the quantity of the same material that could be ground in two minutes. Further the commission ascertained the performance per hour, the amount of power required, and examined the quality of the meal produced. The above tests yielded the following results: A. HAND MACHINES. No. 1. Hand bone-mill with fly-wheel: D. R. P. (1) No. 242 002. This mill grinds per hour 20 to 22 lbs of boiled bones, II to 13 lbs. of raw bones or 6 1⁄2 to 9 lbs. of hard limb-bones. Its price is 28s 8d. The opinion of the judges was as follows: Provided the device for fixing the mill be improved, machine No. I may be declared specially suitable to small concerns, as it yields a very good meal free from splinters and is also very cheap. No. 2. Bone-mill with crank: D. R. P. No. 242 002. The output is about II lbs. per hour. The price of the machine is 24s 6d. The judges' verdict was the following: This machine turns out a meal somewhat inferior to that produced by machine No. I, but still fairly good. Its output is also less and it is not so easy to work and to clean. On the other hand, thanks to an ingenious device, it can easily be fastened to tables projecting but little over their frames. Considering the very slight difference in price, machine No. I is decidedly to be preferred. No. 3. Bone and Universal Mill" Heureka" (Moh's system), B. Model worked by land: D. R. P. No. 217 638. — It grinds from 4 1⁄2 to II lbs. per hour. The price of the mill is 24s 6d. The judges' opinion was the following: Machine No. 3 g.ves, especially with household bones, a good meal. It is easy and safe to work, and relatively cheap. No. 4. Bone and Universal Mill" Heureka" (Mohs' system), E. Model with fly wheel, worked by hand: D. R. P. No. 217 638. — Its output is stated to be 8.8 to 26.2 lbs. per hour. Power required: one man. Price £4 38 3d. The judges' opinion was the following: The mill turns out, especially with household bones in a short time a good quantity of excellent meal, but when working to its full capacity it is too tiring for a man of normal strength. It is besides too dear. B. POWER DRIVEN MACHINES. No. 5. Bone and Universal Mill "Heureka," Z. Model: D. R. P. No. 217 638. The output is said to be 66 to 77 lbs. of coarse meal per hour. The power required to drive it is indicated at 1 H. P. The price is £14 14s. In the opinion of the judges the machine as it is at present is not to be recommended owing to the danger attendant on (1) Deutsches Reichs Patent. (Ed.). |