524 



CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. 



CATTLE IN THE BALTIC PROVINCES. 



EEPORT BY CONSULAR AGENT BOMBOLDT, OF HIOA. 



I have the honor to inclose herewith a report having reference to the 

 breeding of cattle in this consular district, but I regret to say that the 

 information I have been able to collect upon this subject is very limited, 

 as pure bred cattle are very rarely found in these provinces, where stock- 

 raising is in a primitive state. The domestic cattle in their present con- 

 dition would not be recommend able for export. The only cattle fit for 

 exporting are the Podolian (prairie breed from the south of Russia), 

 which is renowned for its contentedness with regard to food and atten- 

 tion, as also for its large size and excellent quality of meat. The risk 

 of spreading the cattle plague in other countries must be taken into con- 

 sideration in this connection. By continual and exact experiments in 

 breeding the Podolian cattle in the United States it could be ascertained 

 whether this very useful cattle would not lose its disposition to disease, 

 under the influence of the soil and climate there. These cattle cost here 

 from $40 to $60 per head. In Libau a large slaughtering establishment 

 has been formed this spring with the view of exporting fresh meat to 

 England, and it has its own steamer, fitted with refrigerators, running 

 regularly to London, The cattle, especially Podolian, come from the 

 interior of Russia by rail to Libau. 



The best manner of export to the United States would be via England. 

 The cost from Eiga to England for cattle varies from about $18 to $20 

 per head. The stock is increasing and is sufficient for home demand. 



PET. BOMBOLDT, 



Consular Agent. 



UNITED STATES CONSULAR AGENCY, 



Riga, November 8, 1883. 



Special statistics concerning cattle in the Baltic provinces. 



Domestic cattle (cross-breeds) : Of middle size and mostly small of stature ; color, 

 brown and reddish, also gray and white. Age at maturity, threo to four years, when 

 their weight is from 540 to 725 pounds. Origin, a cross between foreign and domestic 

 cattle. They are not used for labor. Weight of meat, 290 to 300 pounds. They pro- 

 duce from 276 to 324 gallons of milk yearly. Product of cheese not known. 



Topography : Altitude, 90 feet ; temperature, summer, 66 F. ; winter, 13 F. ; soil, 

 alluvial and sand, with some loam ; substratum, clay. 



Cultivated grasses : Timothy, clover, and rye grass. 



Housing : in stables, on the dung mixed with straw and loft there until spring. 



Feeding : In winter, hay, straw, bran ; in summer, pasture. 



Breeding: Angeln, Oldenburg, Cholrnogoren, country, and cross- broods. 



Products : Milk and cheese. 



