PREFACE 



In Farmer's Cyclopedia of Agriculture, published in 1904, we pre- 

 sented in a systematic manner the established facts which constitute the 

 foundation of practical agriculture as a whole. At that time we had in 

 mind the expansion of the section on animal husbandry in a subsequent 

 volume to more adequately meet the needs of the two million American 

 farmers who make live stock their principal source of income. After 

 three years of labor this idea has come to fruition. 



There are many books devoted to the different kinds of stock, as cat- 

 tle, horses, hogs, and poultry; the subject has also been treated with refer- 

 ence to special features, like breeds of live stock, feeding, animal diseases, 

 dairying, stock judging, breeding, refrigeration of animal products, curing 

 of meats, meat and milk inspection, blacksmithing and marketing stock. 

 Occasionally two or more of these features have been combined ; but here- 

 tofore no attempt has been made to bring all these matters and the multi- 

 tude of other features of animal industry into a symmetrical whole. 



In the first five parts of the book we have considei-ed the general 

 aspects of stock raising, giving attention to those facts and principles 

 which apply to all kinds of farm animals. The other seven parts are con- 

 cerned with specific animals — horses, mules, asses, beef cattle, dairy cattle, 

 sheep, goats, poultry, etc. We have also discussed the present status and 

 value of many other less useful or semi-domesticated animals and game 

 in which an increasing interest is being manifested. 



We have consistently tried to present all the important facts in their 

 logical beaiung on each problem of animal production. The selection of 

 material has been made from the viewpoint of its value to the practical 

 stock raiser in solving the almost innumerable specific problems which he 

 finds. 



The basis of this volume is to be sought in the bulletins and reports 

 of the agricultural experiment stations, Federal and State Departments of 

 Agriculture, live stock periodicals, other publications of this and foreign 

 countries, and in our own personal experience. The book, therefore, em- 

 bodies those experimentally established facts and principles of animal 

 husbandry which at present are our most reliable guides to profitable 

 practice. 



American stock raisers are in a position to produce economically the 

 finest of animal products of all sorts. The recent meat inspection law has 

 enabled the Bureau of Animal Industry to devise and put in operation the 

 most efficient system of meat inspection known to the world. This book 

 is designed to encourage the stockman to do his part in increasing the 

 national resources. 



The task of preparing the present volume has been a peculiarly 

 pleasant one on account of the hearty co-operation which we have received 

 from various sources. The list of names of those to whom we are indebted 

 would run into the hundreds. We are thus compelled to forego further 

 acknowledgment than the specific credits given throughout the text. 

 Photographs have been freely loaned by the secretaries of nearly every 



