Types and Market Classes of Live Stock 23 



Growth of American live-stock industry in 50 years. — The follow- 

 ing census returns show the growth in numbers of our live-stock 

 industry since 1870: 



N'lmbsrs {millions) of animals on farms in the United States on census dates 



Horses 



Mules 



Milk cows . . 

 Other cattle . 



Sheep 



Swine 



The United States leads all other countries in the production of 

 live stock. Though excelled by India in total number of cattle, the 

 United States leads all countries in beef production. We also rank 

 first in the production of milk, butter, and cheese. We have more 

 hogs than any other five countries for which closely approximate 

 figures are available. ^ We rank fourth in number of sheep, being 

 surpassed by Australia, Russia, and Argentina in the order named. 

 We rank a close second to Russia in number of horses. We far surpass 

 any other country in number of mules, with more than four times as 

 many as Spain, our nearest competitor. 



With about 6 per cent of the world's population and 5.7 per cent 

 of the total land area, we have 14 per cent of the world's cattle, 35 

 per cent of the swine, 8 per cent of the sheep, 21 per cent of the horses, 

 and 62 per cent of the mules. ^ We produce 70 per cent of the world's 

 corn, 25 per cent of the oats, and 13 per cent of the barley. ^ Most 

 of these cereals is fed to live stock. We lead all countries in the pro- 

 duction of com and oats. ^ Our tremendous advantage in corn pro- 

 duction explains our supremacy in pork production, and also largely 

 explains our high rank in beef production. Corn and grass are the 

 b^sic m.eat-producing materials in America. Corn is, in fact, the 

 principal grain feed in this country for all kinds of farm animals. 



1 Swine are known to be numerous in China, but no livestock census has been 

 taken in that country. 



■■^Computed from Table 290, U. S. Dept. Agr. Yeirbook, 1921, pp. 675-680. 



^O. E. Baker: A Graphic Summary of American Agriculture, U. S. Dept. Agr. 

 Yearbook, 1921, p. 408. 



*We also lead in wheat, cotton, and tobacco. 



