No. 7. DEFARTMEOSrT OF AGRICULTURE. 341 



KEPOKT OF THE COMMITTEE ON LIVESTOCK. 



Br Ur. E. E. TowEa, Chairmun. 



The number of domestic animals in the United States is esti- 

 mated at 200,000,000, of which Pennsylvania has 3,335,319. Of this 

 number there are 607,506 horses, 38,532 mules, 1,086,734 cows, 774,- 

 496 other cattle, 895,982 sheep and 98,008 hogs, the total valuation 

 of which is estimated at $116,464,108. It is estimated by gO'od au- 

 thority that these figures have been increased by about 10 per cent, 

 during the last year. 



Pennsylvania has 224,248 farms, which, according to the above 

 figures, gives an average of about fifteen animals to each farm. 

 While it is true that some of our farmers are striving to breed bet 

 ter stock, it is also true that a large per cent, of the stock thus bred 

 are being sold to other states, and for which the farmer is getting 

 good prices. Farmers are giving too much attention to the produc- 

 tion of milk, and not enough to breeding, with the idea of improv- 

 ing their stock. 



It is estimated that Pennsylvania imports about 15,000 dairy cows 

 a year, mostly from New York and Ohio. This should not be; we 

 can raise just as good dairy cows as either of these states; why 

 not do it and save 1600,000? 



The demand for good horses is continually increasing, and Penn- 

 sylvania should take some step toward breeding and raising more 

 good horses. Nearly all of the larger type of draft horses are 

 brought in from the*^ West and sold'at from .$200 to |300, while the 

 Pennsylvania breeder stands by and says — -I wish we could raise 

 such horses here." Facts and figures go to prove that we can do 

 anything that any one else can do. 



The first thing to do in our State i? to get the right kind of stock 

 to breed from. One great setback to this business has come from 

 the experience of several stock companies in different parts of the 

 State, who united by neighborhoods and bought stallions at the 

 enormous price of from three to four thousand dollars each, from 

 some individual or firm AA'ho gave souie influential man a two hundred 

 dollar share for selling the balance of the stock. In every case of 

 this kind, as far as I can learn, the stallions have been complete 

 failures. 



In one case which came under my own observation, a stallion, 

 said to be an imported Clydesdale, weighing about 1,500 pounds, was 

 bought by a stock company consisting of about fifteen men, for 

 the sum of |3,500. The leading man in the company received a |500 

 share for selling the rest of the sfock. This stallion was bred to 

 fifty-four mares and got four colts, cue of which was never able to 

 stand alone. In the late fall, the stallion died a very m^^sterious 

 death, and no investigation was made. This matter has been talked 

 over in our meetings, and some good ideas advanced as to the matter 



