238 Missouri Agricultural Report. 



each doubled in numbers in the fifty years. The population in the 

 same period has increased about three and a half times." The 

 demand for these products will continue. The sources of supply 

 cannot now be largely increased. All government areas of free land 

 have been occupied. Japan and China, especially the former, have 

 become intelligent purchasers of our horses, cattle, sheep and swine. 



Another very interesting fact in connection with the animal 

 husbandry industry in America in the past half century is that 

 while animals have increased only about three times in numbers 

 they have increased six times in value. This increase in value is 

 partly due to the increased cost of production, but unquestionably 

 the increase is partly due to the remarkable improvement of the 

 specialized characters which have added to the actual efficiency of 

 the animals reared. 



The average production of wool in 1850 was 2.4 pounds. In 

 1900 the average was 6.9 pounds. If it were possible to secure the 

 statistics for dairy cattle we should find equally startling results. 

 Official records of the dairy cows of the present day show that a 

 cow may produce 30,000 pounds of milk and over 1,000 pounds of 

 butter in 365 days. Entire herds of dairy cows are maintained that 

 produce an average of more than 400 pounds of butter in a year. 

 The first trotting race in America, about 80 years ago, was won by 

 a horse that covered the distance in three minutes. The first Amer- 

 ican fat stock show gave prizes to four-year old steers. No fat 

 stock show in America offers prizes for such animals at the present 

 time. Yearling and two-year old beef cattle of the present day are 

 placed on the market weighing almost as much as the ancient four- 

 year olds of those comparatively recent years. 



These significant evidences of marked improvement indicate 

 that the produce on one acre devoted to improved live stock is in- 

 trinsicly of greater value now than ever before. It is to associa- 

 tions like the Missouri Live Stock Breeders' Association here as- 

 sembled that this remarkable improvement has been largely due. 

 You will, however, agree with me that there is as much opportunity 

 for improvement of the average animal during the next twenty- 

 five years as has been achieved during the last three decades. When 

 we consider the very small number of pure-bred sires in use on the 

 farms in the middle west and the relatively low grade of cattle, 

 horses and sheep now produced in many sections of the middle west 

 today, I am sure that you will be confirmed in the belief that there 

 is a great field for associations like this, and for the earnest work 



