4 



over-production of cheap animals on the great ranges of the 

 western States. 



Mules have naturally followed horses in diminishing price 

 and number, but have not proceeded so rapidly in either 

 case. The number of mules did not reach the maximum 

 until 1895, several years later than with horses, and has 

 since then fallen only 6.2 per cent, as against 9.6 per cent 

 for horses. 



Little change in the number of milch cows is reported from 

 the Atlantic States, but the north central region shows some 

 diminution. West of this region there is generally a con- 

 tinued increase, due to increased interest in the dairy indus- 

 try. Prices are slightly lower in most of the eastern and 

 some of the central States, but west of the Mississippi 

 milch cows are in demand at prices generally higher than 

 prevailed a year ago. 



Oxen and other cattle have decreased one-sixth in number 

 since 1894. The use of oxen has fallen off because of the 

 cheapness of horses, and ''other cattle" have declined in 

 number because of the financial depression. This decrease 

 in number has been accompanied by some improvement in 

 price, due to the increasing demand for beef, as related to 

 the supply. 



With some local increases, there is a general falling off in 

 the number of sheep throughout the country, the lower 

 price of wool being the cause usually assigned for it. The 

 price shows a prevailing tendency to improve, usually ex- 

 plained as due to the increased mutton demand. Losses 

 from dogs amounted to 1.1 per cent of the whole number, 

 or a little over a quarter of a million sheep altogether. 



Swine decreased 5.2 per cent in number during the year 

 1896, due mostly to severe attacks of cholera in regions of 

 large production. Along with this there has been a further 

 fall of 25 cents in average price per head, the two factors 

 resulting in an aggregate loss of $20,000,000. 



On Jan. 1, 1897, there were estimated to be 14,364,667 

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

 $452,649,396; 2,215,654 mules, valued at $92,302,090; 

 15,941,727 milch cows, valued at $369,239,993; 30,508,408 

 oxen and other cattle, valued at $507,929,421; 36,818,643 



