H 



r \KI 



also drawing upon the Pn>\ ince. and the profit to the seller is con- 

 siderable. Up to N'ovcn i [Qia, a> many as 3,191 head of 

 high-class beef cattle passed through Black Rock alone to American 

 ma: face of a <lut> of about $27.50 per head. 



/ViVr.- There is a general >carcit\ of breeding cattle in the 

 I'nited States, in the Atlantic l'ro\inccs, and in Ontario itself, and 

 shortage is involving high prices for good beef and attractive 

 \alucs for the commoner grades. The average top price paid for 

 good e butcher's cattle at Toronto during 191 2 was $7.03, as 



against $6.16 during HJII. But parting with too many breeding 

 cattle i- a danger. Further, tempted by present gain, the farmer- 

 ,f the Province are disposing of their calves. This aNo is a menace, 

 l-'or o pounds of veal gained 1,200 pounds of beef are lost 



to the consumer. And marketable cattle cannot be reproduced and 

 -n in a day. The injury can only be averted by retaining a 

 sufficient number of mothers and by the raising of -nit able h 

 as breeders to produce the meat demanded. And it is essential that 

 farmers should bear this in mind when, allured by present high 

 .ire giving more attention to live stock. But numbers 

 without judicious breeding to quality will tend to lower prices and 

 poorer business, whereas a healthy increase coupled with quality 

 will signify high prices, larger markets and a greater demand. The 

 Christmas markets are instructive in regard to the value of quality 

 in the face of heavy receipts. Better feeding cattle make 

 cheaper production and lessen the range of price between seller and 

 buyer, lly sufficiently reducing cost of production the farmer will 

 ?>e able to sell cheaper and at greater profit. 



Sheep. 



--ful raising of -beep the climate of Ontario 

 nearly ideal as any other land. Perhaps in no country are 

 sheep liable to so few diseases, and all the leading breeds do well. 

 < Mitario is the breeding-ground for other provinces of the Dominion. 

 and it helps to supply the United States flockmasters who look for 

 quality and stamina when fresh blood is required for the improve- 

 ment of their stock. Nevertheless the sheep industry has decreased, 

 it legislation and effort is such that a revival in breeding 

 operations is expected, and sheep farming and wool growing may 

 soon be one of the largest and most popular branches of agri- 

 culture in Canada. With a climate adapted to their healthy and 

 economical development, abundance of cheap pasturage and a stable 



