5 ( J4 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. 



This immense territory ought to sustain hundreds oi 1 thousands ol 

 cattle. The land is cheap, and it is plain that intelligent enterprising 

 men would iind this a most inviting lield. 



STEPHEN 11. SMITH, 



Consul. 

 UNITED STATES CONSULATE. 



3,'utco Laredo^ Dccer.iber -, ISS'i. 



THE BREEDING CATTLE OF NORTHERN MEXICO. 



I have the honor to submit to the Department of Sta.e the following 

 report in relation to "breeding animals" of my consular district: 



This subject comprises one of the main industries and chief export 

 commodities of .Northern Mexico. The fact that Mexican cows and 

 mares are much sought by ranchmen of the Ur.itrd States for breeding 

 purposes, naturally engenders the inquiry as to the reason. It is not 

 becau- e they arr larger and finer than American stock, for such is not 

 the case. \Vhiie the cattle possess large bone and frame, still they are 

 wonderfully drticirni in liesh. ,.ud having long legs, exhibit entirely 

 too much light underneath the],:, thus evidencing a great need of flesh 

 and muscular development. Such is no doubt attributable to the fact 

 that they have been too much inbred, li cannot be the fault of the 

 country, for no region under the sun is better adapted to growing stock 

 than Noi th"i ;i Mexico. Climate, grass, water, and the general topog- 

 raphy of the country are decidedly favorable to animal comfort and 

 development. True, there are many localities where all kinds of stock 

 are penned during the night, and held under restraint by herders 

 during the daytime to prevent them from trespassing on unprotected 

 farms, and no animal of the cow or horse kind can fully develop under 

 such treatment. They need to range nomadically in order to have 

 anything like- a fair chance for size. J>e the causes what they may, 

 it is a generally iccogiii/ed fact that the Mexican stock is inferior 

 to ami much smaller than American raised animals. 'IJut the Mexican 

 cattle bring acclimated" and healthy, constitute an excellent medium 

 upon which to cross the. nnacelimated Dnrhams and other tine, bloods. 

 Such cross produces a large, healthy, compact: animal that is highly 

 cd b\ Southern and Western stock-raisers of the United States. 

 -I cross is estimated a! oO percent, in value above the ungraded; 

 lids of breves of lids class ( half breeds) are being trans- 

 from the prairies of Texas, .New .Mexico, .Kansas, .Nebraska, and 

 h> to ( 'idea go a ;;d Saint Louis, and sold in competition with stall- 

 f<-d cat t h- of ; hr Norihern and Middle. States. 



opinion among Mock-growers who are familiar 

 s of cattle, that a cross between the American 

 he acclimated rows oi' Me\ico. imparts feo the ofl- 

 health, vigor, si/e, development of liesh and eom- 

 ;! com mon wit h ot her gra* !cs. 



'f Northern Mexico can Ije purchased many thousand 

 for breeding purposes, and at reasonable prices. 



i;. .!. IMMIM.KN, 



