FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 471 



It lias been estimated by good authority that the average age of all our cattle 

 is five years (some say four years) ; if this be true (and I have little doubt but 

 that the estimate is a fair one), what changes might be wrought in a decade 

 by using pure, blooded sires of one or another of our best breeds of cattle. 

 lu the time mentioned if there were no increase in number of animals turned 

 for beef, Michigan farmers would be producing nearly one-fourth more beef, 

 and receiving from one-fifth to one-third more in price for the animals sold. 



This can come as part of a fixed })lan and in connection with a regular rota- 

 tion recognizing the fact that the manure produced is of considerable value to 

 us now, and wall be of more value as our state grows older. 



I expect to be met by the cry of over-production and glutted markets, but 

 on this score I believe we need not fear at present if we only raise our standard 

 of quality in the productions sent abroad. You will pardon another allusion 

 to the Smithfield show, in this connection, in the remarks of the Agricultural 

 Gazette. It says : 



The presence of the American oxen shown by Messrs. Bell of Charterhouse 

 Square, and of the Danish animals, has told what keen competition all pro- 

 ducers of any meat, short of the very best, must prepare themselves to face. 

 The American cattle were below the best Scotch or English beasts, hut not 

 helow any except the very best ; and the Danish contribution (although not up 

 -to the American standard) so far exceeds what the Danish cattle used to be, 

 that this suggests, not less than the Americans do, to those who are disposed 

 to be laggards in breeding, some very uncomfortable thoughts of being under- 

 sold. Messrs. Bell's oxen would quite equal the average English animals. 



Here then is one outlet at least which has been open for a short time, and 

 from present appearances promises to last a long time. The prophecy that 

 was made in 1873 in regard to our export trade and the possibilities in regard 

 to the shipment of dressed meats have been more than realized. The table of 

 exports in the Keport of Bureau of Statistics, Treasury Department, gives as 

 animal exports, i. e., animals, their products and articles manufactured from 

 them, 1874, $99,000,000; 1875, $104,814,988; 1876, $113,941,509; 1877, 

 1140,504,060. In 1876 the live cattle exported alone amounted to 1,110,703; 

 in 1877, 3,414,411. Eight in this connection, however, we are met by the 

 argument that although there is a strong and increasing export demand, yet 

 the great West and Southwest can more than fill this call, and thus we shall 

 have no business to try to compete with them. 



We are, perhaps, met by the statement which is very probably true, that 

 Chicago has handled $5,000,000 more value in live stock of all kinds in 1878 

 than in 1877, and that at such rate of increase, overproduction must surely 

 follow. They probably neglect to look at the fact that a cheapening of meats 

 increases the home consumption, and also that there is an increase from the 

 increase of population and a gradual spreading of trade. This spreading of 

 trade is shown quite as much in the receipts as the sales. It shows a larger 

 territory tributary to and dependent upon that market. 



There is one point that I would not have Michigan farmers overlook, and 

 that is, that with such early maturity as we ought to have in our animals turned 

 off, together with the lessened distance for transportation, there is no reason 

 why we cannot compete successfully with the cattle men of the country west 

 of the Missouri. Especially should this be true when we take into considera- 

 ation til at ours is but part of a system well regulated, and of which the cattle 



