CHAPTER VI 

 ANIMAL INDUSTRIES OF NEW YORK 



The first Dutch settlers brought over many kinds 

 of live-stock. In 1623, Peter Earstin Heft intro- 

 duced the first cattle into New York, and in 1625 

 three boat-loads of stock were imported to New 

 Amsterdam and included horses, cattle, sheep, swine, 

 also seeds and plows. The presumption is that the 

 cattle carried the Friesian blood. In those early- 

 days, cattle were irhportant for draft purposes, as well 

 as for meat and milk. As late as 1850 there was 

 nearly half as many oxen on farms as horses. 

 Horses were very much of a luxury among the 

 pioneers when the ox could plow the field, draw the 

 wagon, furnish meat, and finally provide leather for 

 the shoes and boots for the household. Sheep were 

 important to supply the wool that was carded and 

 spun in the home into yam, from which the winter 

 clothing was largely made. 



The animal industries have for many years held a 



leading place among the agricultural activities of 



the State. In the last sixty-five years, there has been 



very little change in the total intensity of animal 



production. Excluding poultry, in which there has 



been a large increase, the number of mature animal 



units is very little larger now than it was in 1850. 



200 



