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Show - I 32 OO~MBBIONBIB OP mux APF~IBB. STOCK RAISING. For four years we have been stocking the Indian reservations with cattle, horses, and sheep, and assisting the Indians to become 1 aoquainted with the proper method of handling these interests. The number of stock on the various reservations has been in-creased during the year 1916-17, in addition to the natural increase, by the purchase and distribution in 20 reservations of 610 bulls, 3,127 heifers, 522 cows and calves, 376 mares, and many ram. 1 More satisfwtory results were obtained this year under a new * plan of purchase, whereby representatives of the Indian Service - visited the ranches where the stook offered could be inspected. A better grade of stock was procured and at a price which represented a saving of $20,000 on the entire amount. The improvement of dairy herds maintained at the various schools and agencies along the lines of work conducted by the dairy division of the Bureau of Animal Industry has been successful. Definite instructions were sent to superintendents and others in charge of dairyii interests on October 16, 1916, suggestive paragraphs of which follow: From pemnal ohearvation and reporta received h m time to time it is apparent tbat the dairy herds belonging to the vdoun Bc6001e and reearvations in the Indian Benice are not as a general rule being handled in the beet manner, and are not receiv-ing the care and attention neceasary to get satiefactory results. I am convinced that there is urgent need of improvement in all phhases of the work involved in the prcduo tion of milk and also in the methods of handling the dairy herds. In order to determioe what should be done to accomplish this, it is necessary that the peaon in chsrge of the herd should make a careful study of each animal so aa to become familiar with the characteristics of every animal in the herd. This can not be done without keeping a comet record which will show the peculiarities of tempers-ment and susceptibility to surroundinge and conditions. A apecial study should be made of the dahy capacity and the feed consumption of each animal in order that the "star boarders" of the herd which do not pmduce enough milk to pay for their feed mav be eliminated. A ~eriodicacl ulliw- of the herd to eliminate unworthy members is necessary U, bring the dairy herd up to the standard, and J want every employea in chawe of such work Lo inatdl immediatel.y asy.b vm of record8 to provide for canyhg on thiswork intelligently and effectively. In the management of the dairy herd at your school it in desirable wherever poaeible to utilize the male calves and the COW8 which have reached an age when they sre no longer profitable for milking purposes for beef where mch policy can be followed pro-' fitably. In order to do thin it in neewary to have a d c i e n t amount of feed or pasture avdable to produce thja beef at a satisfactory coat. All animals used for that purposes should be run m a separate herd and under no circumstances should they be handled as a part of the dairy herd. It in our desire to have each school know what its dairy herd is doing in comparison with the dairy herds at other schools in the Indian S e ~ c e . Succes. in handling thin industq is entirely dependent upon the type, quality, and development of the animals in the herd, the general conditions under which they am maintained, and the intereatof the superintendent and the employee in direct charge of this work. |
