272 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



animal products, — the meat, skins, hair, hoofs, horns, and bones all serve 

 useful ends, -while the offal and even blood is used for fertilizers. 



There is another object in stock breeding which makes it essential to the 

 farmer. This is to furnish a method of turning the coarser products of the 

 farm into money, and at the same time leaving a large portion as a fertilizer 

 to supply the waste of constant cropping. If the soil would year after year 

 grow wheat without deterioration, or any other paying crop, there might in 

 many cases be no necessity for keeping stock, but as this is not the case the 

 necessity arises for growing other products to rest the soil, and to have animals 

 to consume them and change them into salable products, leaving the residue 

 to fertilize the soil. 



It is a well-known fact that a large portion of the food consumed does not 

 go to make flesh and wool, but is returned to the land in the manure. Thus 

 by chemical analysis it has been found that no higher than 75 per cent of the 

 dry matter of feeding stuffs on an average is digested, leaving the balance as a 

 fertilizer. 



Stock breeding as applied to pure bred stock of all kinds seems to convey a 

 greater meaning than when applied simply to the breeding and raising for the 

 market, for meat or wool, or of horses for draft or other work; and it may 

 require greater skill to be successful in the former than in the latter, but the 

 same principles apply in both. 



I propose to treat this subject to-day in the line of improvement. This is 

 the great object sought and it is what we need, whether we are breeding pure 

 bred stock or grading the common stock everywhere at hand, so as to make 

 them more profitable and useful. 



As the gentleman indicated when this subject was assigned to me that it was 

 expected my remarks would relate chiefly to cattle, I take as my subject the 

 "Improvement of Cattle," trusting that as far as the subject is concerned it 

 will meet your approval, for most of the general topics will apply equally to all 

 varieties of stock. 



The subject of improvement of cattle is of interest to all; as well to the 

 resident of city or village as to the farmer. The first benefit, of course, is to 

 the latter, as it is to him a source of profit, but it is none the less desirable to 

 the consumer. Genuine improvement of cattle means better steaks and roasts. 

 It means purer, healthier, better milk for your children (which by the way is 

 the cheapest and best food for the young), richer cream for your tables, better 

 cheese and better butter for all. 



This must be so, because the same spirit that will cause improvement in the 

 raising of cattle will also adopt better methods of feeding, better methods and 

 greater care in the management of milk, and better systems for the manufac- 

 ture of butter and cheese. With the greatest improvement, with choice cattle 

 and good food, and perfect care, we should have only the best products and 

 choice meats, and good butter and cheese would be the rule, and not the 

 exception. Consumers may have these if they demand them, and a refusal of 

 inferior products at any price would soon improve them. 



You can readily see that there are in this subject many elements of interest 

 to all who use the products of the kine, and that is almost universal. You 

 may be asked a little higher price for what requires more skill and care, but 

 you will readily pay it when you know that you are getting the value of your 

 money. I believe the demands of tlie table of tlie wealthy and refined classes 

 of society will be a leading inducement toward the highest and best improve- 



