54 PRODUCTION 



United States. 1 Till quite recently, also, the output of cattle from 

 this district suffered reduction owing to the harmful result of pre- 

 vious overstocking ; 2 but more recent reports show that a change 

 is coming over the cattle-industry of Alberta. In this, intelligent 

 Government assistance, by means of experiment stations, advice 

 and subsidies, has been helpful. The acreage under lucerne has 

 increased rapidly in recent years. 3 Waste and inferior grain is now 

 being utilised more than before as feed and fattening material for 

 stock. Live-stock and crop rotations are being introduced with 

 the spread of mixed farming, in the earlier settled districts, and even 

 dairying has sprung up to supply local needs. The outlook appears 

 rather hopeful. 



In the second place, there has been a notable rise in the average 

 milk yield of dairy cows in Canada, 4 as shown by the fact that 

 between 1901 and 1911 milk production is estimated to have in- 

 creased 43}%, while the number of milk cows increased less than 

 8%. The upward limit of improvement has not yet been reached, 

 and developments in this direction will undoubtedly have an 

 uplifting effect upon the whole dairy industry, thus indirectly as 

 well as directly increasing milk production. 



Thirdly, there are considerable areas of well-watered land as 

 yet undeveloped on the Pacific Slope in British Columbia, which 

 does not now supply its own needs in animal produce. 5 Though 

 animal industries have declined relativety to the population, there 

 is reason for believing that these will receive more attention in 

 the future as the lumber industry clears the forests and the progress 

 of railway and road construction makes the interior valleys acces- 

 sible. 6 The special advantages here for cattle-raising are a moist 

 climate with mild winters, and an abundance of land. 7 This region 



1 " In the raising of beef cattle Alberta is now rapidly approaching that 

 low ebb of production which has characterised every country that has changed 

 from the ranching to the farming system." Canadian Sessional Papers, 

 Vol. IX., 1913, p. 332. 



2 " Overstocking has been common in the cattle ranches, hence there has 

 been a decline in their fertility." Canadian Sessional Papers, Vol. IX., 1913, 

 p. 334. 



3 To about 14,000 acres in 1915 from nothing a few years earlier. U.S, 

 Daily Commerce Report, July 6th, 1915. 



4 The milk yield per cow in Ontario (the chief dairy province) increased from 

 2,800 Ibs. in 1900 to over 4,100 Ibs. in 1913. U.S. Daily Commerce Report, 

 Dec. 29th, 1914. 



5 The value of the whole agricultural production of British Columbia in 

 1914 was about 30 million dollars, while imports of agricultural produce were 

 valued at about 25 million dollars. U.S. Daily Commerce Report, July 28th, 

 1915. With reference to the resources available for cattle-rearing in British 

 Columbia, and the prospects of an increase in that industry there, see 

 Dominions Commission (Cd. 8458), QQ. 173-9. 



6 " There is no reason, as the province develops, why the cattle industry 

 should not attain very much larger proportions." Report of Scottish Agri- 

 cultural Commission, 1908, p. 103. 



7 " The growth of the live-stock industry has not been so rapid in this pro- 

 vince as would seem warranted by the area available, and the increased prices 

 for animal products." U.S. Consul at Vancouver in Daily Commerce Report, 

 July 31st, 1912, p. 541. 



