6 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. 



From the foregoing statement showing the imports of oxen and bulls 

 into the United Kingdom that is, butcher stock it will be seen that 

 American cattle, if we except the Channel Islands cattle, which are im- 

 ported for breeding purposes, command higher prices than the cattle 

 imported from any other country, and we may assume that the best 

 butcher stock of the world is represented in that market. The cattle im- 

 ported from Canada, although analogous to American cattle, are valued 

 at more than $12 per head less than our cattle, while those of European 

 countries are valued at from $25 to $18 per head less than ours, with 

 the exception of Portuguese cattle, which only fall short $11.55 per head. 



This, therefore, bears out some of our consuls in their assertions that 

 American cattle are the best general cattle in the world. Having the 

 finest cattle ranges and most favorable climate for cattle-raising, the 

 superiority of our cattle, as asserted in the British markets, is surprising 

 only to those who have been in the habit persons who assume rather 

 than reason of connecting high-grade cattle with the Olcl World only. 

 The superiority of our cattle and cattle ranges is nowhere better under- 

 stood than by the advanced and intelligent cattlemen of Ontario. This 

 is verified in many ways, but in no way more emphatically than by the 

 fact that Canadian cattle companies, in order to keep up to the demands 

 of the British markets Canadian cattle falling far below American cat- 

 tle therein have been forced to leave Canadian pastures for those of 

 the United States, as a report upon the subject from the consul at 

 Sherbrooke will substantiate. The intelligent and sensible efforts of 

 those companies for the improvement of their vast herds are worthy of 

 deep study on the part of our cattlemen. 



The Ontario Agricultural Commission, in the report of its proceedings 

 published in 1881, refers in complimentary terms to the superiority of 

 American cattle. Mr. A. J. Thompson, a large shipper of Canadian 

 cattle to England, testified as follows before the commission : 



The animals that come from Kansas City are far superior to Canadian grain-fed 

 cattle; there is no comparison between them. People have the idea that there is no 

 breeding among the cattle in the Western States, but this is a great mistake, for these 

 cattle are all pretty well bred. 



A statement, attached hereto, has been prepared which sjiows the im- 

 portations of cattle (cows and calves omitted) ipto the United Kingdom 

 during the eleven years ending with the year 1884. These details em- 

 brace the beginning and development of our cattle and fresh-beef trade 

 with that country, and are of special interest to our cattlemen and 

 packers. 



This statement goes to show that our exportations of cattle to Europe 

 really began in the year 1877 previous exportations being more or 

 less in the nature of experiments and reached their maximum in 1880 ; 

 the imports into the United Kingdom from the United States during 

 that year amounting to $17,889,174, against $16,120,600 during the year 

 1884. 



The magnitude to which this trade would have grown were it not for 

 adverse legislation legislation the result of fear lest cattle disease 

 might be introduced into the United Kingdom through the free import 

 of American cattle which hampered the landing, and the handling and 

 killing after landing, of the animals, would only have been limited by 

 our capacity to supply the demand. 



The changes which have taken place in the British foreign cattle 

 trade during the decade ending with 1884, and the relative positions of 



