ELEVENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART X 491 



Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, 

 South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, West Virginia, Wis- 

 consin and Wyoming. 



The organization of this department has been perfected so far as 

 the limited appropriation will permit, and able and faithful assist- 

 ants have rendered valuable aid in promoting the interests with 

 which the department is associated. Competent men throughout 

 the state have responded promptly and efficiently to the various 

 emergencies demanding their attention which have arisen during 

 the last period. Sudden outbreaks of disease among stock must be 

 met intelligently and promptly, and the necessary precaution taken 

 to preclude serious and widespread injury and loss. The welfare 

 of stock raisers demands reliable inspection and the enactment and 

 enforcement of such laws as may be necessary to protect them 

 against infection and dissemination of diseases of stock. The losses 

 traceable to preventable diseases where insufficient regulation 

 has prevailed so far exceeds the entire cost of this department that 

 there is no comparison. That economy which seeks to cut down and 

 circumscribe unduly the resources of this or similar departments 

 is repudiated by the results, and is contrary to good business judg- 

 ment and foresight. The appropriation of this state is far below 

 that of adjoining states for similar departments. The department 

 will be conducted to its highest efficiency possible with the avail- 

 able funds, but better results could be derived from a substantial 

 increase of the appropriation. Proportionately the results would 

 be more satisfactory and tangible. An examination of the work 

 of the department will disclose the fact that more has been ac- 

 complished in proportion to the expenditure than was intended or 

 expected. But much additional remains to be done, and in order 

 to bring this department up to its greatest efficiency, and to the 

 place to which its importance entitles it, an increased appropria- 

 tion is imperative. , 



According to the latest available reports there are in the United 

 States about 71,000,000 head of cattle, about 23,000,000 of which 

 are dairy cows. There are in the United States approximately 

 24,000,000 head of horses, 4,000,000 mules, 58,000,000 sheep and 

 50,000,000 swine. There are in the state of Iowa about 1,500,000 

 head of horses valued at about $174,000,000. In this state there 

 are about 47,000 mules, valued at about $5,700,000. Iowa has 

 about 1,570,000 milch cows valued at about $57,000,000; and there 

 are in the state about 3,600,000 head of other cattle, valued at 



