360 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. 



stock, and these animals are distributed among the different provinces 

 and sold to the stock-breeders. The result is carefully watched and 

 rewards are offered to those who are able to show the best specimens 

 arising from judicious care and attention. 



Professor Leyder, of the .Royal Agricultural Institute, sends me a pam- 

 phlet written by himself upon the animals at the national exposition of 

 1880, and in his written reply to my inquiries he says : 



None of our races have sufficient merit to attract the attention of stock-breeders; 

 also that our statistical documents are silent upon the subject of the distribution of 

 cattle races among the different provinces. 



In his pamphlet he states that the demands for home consumption, 

 which the product is far from covering, call for large importations of 

 cattle. Since a dozen years the excess of importations over exporta- 

 tions has been about 50,000 head yearly. Holland contributes most 

 largely to this number, partly of cattle ready fattened for the market, 

 of others coming to be fattened, and also of some reserved for breeding 

 purposes. Of the 123,201, 121,138, and 142,480 head of cattle imported, 

 respectively, in 1878, 1879, and 1880, there came from Holland 107,008, 

 100,933, and 113,808 head. 



TRANSPORTATION OF CATTLE TO THE UNITED STATES. 



Although Belgium has no cattle of her own to export for breeding 

 purposes, she offers the best route of export from this part of the world 

 to the United States. The White Cross line of steamers, sailing from 

 Antwerp to New York, Boston, and Quebec, are fitted with the proper 

 accommodations for the transport of cattle, and they carry a great 

 many, principally coming from Holland, some from Switzerland, but 

 more from Belgium. The cattle are brought to Antwerp by rail or 

 water, are inspected by the veterinary surgeon, and then placed on 

 board of the steamers. 



COST OF TRANSPORTATION TO THE UNITED STATES. 



The agents of the line here furnished me with the following as the 

 rates of transportation, namely : 8 per head for cows, 7 per head for 

 yearlings, 6 per head for calves, including installations, water, and 

 feeding for twenty days. The men accompanying the cattle for attend- 

 ance have free passage. 



If no men accompany the cattle the steamer provides attendance at 

 the rate of 4s. per head. If shippers provide feed the price is 2 less 

 per head. 



JOHN H. STEUART, 



UNITED STATES CONSULATE, Consul. 



Antwerp, December 29, 1883. 



BREEDS OF CATTLE IN BELGIUM. 



REPORT EY CONSUL WILSON, OF BRUSSELS. 



In a country where the subdivision of property is so great and the 

 population so dense as in Belgium, the raising of stock and the im- 

 provement of breeds, of necessity, cannot constitute an important 

 branch of agricultural industry; nevertheless, within the last few years 

 there has been amongst agriculturists here a strong and persistent effort 



