REPORT OF THE BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 341 



The introduction of the blood of beef breeds, particularly of Short- 

 horns, has improved the yield of dairy products to the following ex- 

 tent: Of milk, 36.74 per cent. ; of butter, 29.92 per cent. ; and of 

 cheese, 18.91 per cent., where grade stock got by purely-bred bulls of 

 the kinds mentioned have been milked. 



The cost of production of beef by animals sired by Holstein- 

 Friesiaii bulls coupled with cows of common stock is reported, by 

 breeders in the different parts of the United States, to be such as 

 would make the general average cost of beef of grade yearlings 

 $3. 43 per 100 pounds. The general average cost of the beef of two- 

 year-old grades of this kind is $3.24, and that from three-year-old 

 grades of the same breeding, is $3. 16-J per 100 pounds. All the figures 

 given are for living animals. In the same localities the general 

 average cost of the beef of scrub or common yearlings is $4.33-g> 

 that of two-year-olds was $4.20, and that from three-year-olds was 

 $4.26|- per cental. These figures, based on and giving the general 

 averages of reports received from observers scattered throughout 

 nearly every part of the United States where bulls of pure blood 

 have been thus used, show that there was a difference of 99.8 cents 

 per 100 pounds in favor of yearling grades, of 96 cents in favor of 

 two-year-old grades, and of $1.10 per cental in favor of three-year- 

 old grades, compared with unimproved stock, for the production of 

 beef. 



Figures given in the table in which are contrasted the general 

 average values of cows and bulls of pure breeding, those of grades, 

 and those of native stock, show that while the general average value 

 of pure-blooded cows was $212.15, and of bulls of like breeding 

 was $146.34, that of half-breeds was $36.92, that of three-quarter 

 breeds was $54.62, and that of all higher grades, including .those 

 which were in everything, excepting eligibility to registration and 

 the fixity of the power of transmitting their own good qualities, seem- 

 ingly as good as those of pure breeding, was $78. 75 per head. While 

 the difference in values between the classes mentioned above was 

 large, that between the values of the grades and the natives was 

 equally worthy of note. Half-breeds were worth $24.31 more than 

 yearlings, $17.34 more than two-year-old, and $8.33 more than three- 

 year-old natives. Three-quarter blood grades were worth $42.01 

 more than native yearlings, $35.04 more than two-year-old, and $26.03 

 more than three-year-old natives. Higher grades averaged in value 

 $66.14 more than natives one year old, $59.17 more than two-year- 

 olds, and $50.16 more than the value of three-year-old stock of com- 

 mon blood. 



Another difference appears in favor of high breeding when com- 

 parison is made between the percentage of calves, born of the 

 several classes of cows, which reach maturity. Of those from cows 

 of pure breeding 88. 17 per cent, reach mature or breeding age. Of 

 grade calves 66.32 per cent, arrive at that stage, while of native calves 

 born only 52. 87 per cent, become old enough to breed. In obtaining 

 these figures those animals which are killed for veal are not counted. 



The general average duration of life of native bulls has been 6.48 

 years; that of grade bulls has been 6.91 years, and that of bulls of 

 pure breeding, has been 7.8 years. Native cows have lived an aver- 

 age life of 10.14 years; grade cows, 11. 67 years, and purely-bred 

 cows have averaged 12.64 years of life, during 85.41 per cent, of 

 which time they have given birth to one calf each year, an average 

 of 10.79 calves per cow during her life-time. 



