sters and fancy stock. Colts are unsalable in many sections 

 and breeding has been largely discontinued. 



There is a slight gain in the number of mules in the cotton 

 belt and a considerable loss in the central region, due to dis- 

 continuance of breeding. Total loss in number, 54,162, or 



2.3 per cent, about half that of horses. The average price 

 has fallen from $47.55 in 1895 to $45.29, or a fall of about 

 4.8 per cent. 



North of the Potomac milch cows generally increased in 

 number, owing to the city demand. In central and south 

 central regions there is a decrease, on account of the high 

 price of feed ; elsewhere in the West there is an increase, 

 due to the increased interest in dairying and starting of 

 creameries. The demand continues steady. The average 

 price has risen from $21.97 in 1895 to $22.55. The de- 

 crease in number over the whole country amounted to 367,- 

 043, or 2.2 per cent. 



The total decline in the number of oxen and other cattle 

 amounts to 2,278,807, or Q.6 per cent. The decline is gen- 

 erally ascribed to drought and food scarcity and the raising 

 of fewer calves. The increase in value per head is quite 

 general except in the Atlantic States. The average price in 

 January, 1895, was $14.06; in 1896, $15.86, or an increase 

 of 12.8 per cent. 



The decline in the number of sheep was 3,995,281, or 



9.4 per cent. The cause generally assigned is the low price 

 of wool. In spite of the decrease in numbers, the wool clip 

 is slightly larger than that of last year, owing to a more 

 favorable winter. The average price has risen from $1.58 

 in 1895 to $1.70, or an increase of 7.6 per cent. 



The number of swine in the country declined 1,322,957 

 during the year, or 3 per cent. Cholera and other diseases 

 were the leading causes of the decline. The average price 

 fell from $4.97 in 1895 to $4.35, a decrease of 12.5 per cent. 



On Jan. 1, 1896, there were estimated to be 15,124,057 

 horses on farms and ranches in the United States, valued at 

 $500,140,186; 2,278,946 mules, valued at $103,204,457; 

 16,137,586 milch cows, valued at $363,955,545 ; 32,085,409 

 oxen and other cattle, valued at $508,928,416 ; 38,298,783 

 sheep, valued at $65,167,735; 42,842,759 swine, valued at 



