STATISTICS RELATING TO ANIMALS ON FARMS 271 



1910 1900 1890 1880 



20,625,432 17,135,633 16,511,950 12,443,120 



In regard to the dairy cows, the census reports that 

 there was a nominal increase over the number for the 

 twelfth census of 20.4 per cent The animals desig- 

 nated as dairy cows, however, at the census of 1910 

 included all born prior to June 1, 1909, or, in other 

 words, all over fifteen and a half months old ; while the 

 class designated as dairy cows in 1900 included only 

 those two years of age or over on June 1, 1900. 



While the data of comparison are therefore not 

 strictly representative, the census report concludes that 

 after making all necessary allowances in the different 

 methods of enumeration, there was a very considerable 

 increase in the number of dairy cows between 1900 

 and 1910. The dairy industry therefore is increasing 

 in the number of dairy cows, and doubtless also in their 

 quality. Its growth is less rapid than that of the popu- 

 lation ; while, on the other hand, the business of raising 

 cattle for slaughter is rapidly declining. 



The tendency to decrease the number of farm ani- 

 mals appears to obtain in Great Britain also. 



ANIMAL FOOD PRODUCTS. 



In regard to the food products of domestic cattle, 

 interesting data are supplied by the census. The total 

 quantity of milk reported as produced on farms for the 

 census year 1910 was 5,813,699,000 gallons. The 

 average production of milk per cow was about 362 gal- 

 lons. The total reports, however, cover only a little 

 over 16,000,000 cows. If the unreported milk of the 

 remaining cows should be added to this quantity, it is 

 seen that the total production on farms in 1909 would 

 have been about 7,466,406,000 gallons. For 1899 the 



