426 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. 



CATTLE IN SAXONY. 



REPORT BJ CONSUL MASON, OF DRESDEN. 



I have the honor to reply to circular issued from the Department of 

 State July 18, 1883. 



The importance of the subject I immediately comprehended, and set 

 to work to furnish all the information I could obtain, and hence the ap- 

 parent delay in responding. 



I found the greatest difiSculty in procuring the desired information, 

 especially that which would enable me to complete the tables or blanks 

 furnished by the Department. At last I applied to the statistical bu- 

 reau of Saxony for what information they could furnish me, to report to 

 the Department of State. They replied in the following communication : 



LTranslation.J 



The respectfully uodersigned board of managers deeply regret beiug uuablc fully 

 to answer tlie questious contained in tlie circular issued by the Department of State, 

 Washington, on the 18th of July last, as inquiries relative to the diffusion of the va- 

 rious breeds of cattle and the fecundity of the offspring to be met with throughout 

 the country have, up to this time, not been instituted. By means of the researches 

 made in the year 1B80 concerning the amouut of bulls kept throughout the country, 

 some valuable information has, however, been gained with regard to the breeds of 

 bulls used for breeding purposes. As one is, at any rate, able to draw conclusions, 

 from the bulls in exieitence, to the cut or tendency of the breeding, the undersigned 

 board of managers have the honor of submitting to the consulate the results of the 

 investigation under consideration in one of the supplements ; in addition to which 

 we beg to subjoin to the circular, which we do hereby return, a variety of jottings 

 appertaining to the areas used for farming purposes, the live weight, and the selling 

 value of the beasts, together with the results of the latest census of animals. 



The Kingdom of Saxony does not only import vast quantities of cattle to be butch- 

 ered for the market, but also introduces numbers of Oldenburg and Dutch cows, giv- 

 ing fresh milk, or great with young, which, subsequently to being milked until they 

 cease to yield any more, are slaughtered, or, like imported heifers, used for breeding 

 purposes. Only Voigtland draft oxen aud fattened ones, or such as are undergoing 

 a course of feeding, are exported in rather large quantities. The Voigtland cattle, 

 which formerly were in very brisk 'demand, not only on account of the uncommon 

 richness of their milk, but also by reason of their being strikingly adapted to be stall- 

 fed, and, in particular, owing to their serviceableness as beasts of draft, are less fre- 

 quently used for breeding purposes than tliey formerly were. The extension of this 

 breed, which is the only one indigenous to this country, ie but very trifling, since it 

 is not to be met with anywhere except in the vicinity of Plauen, Oelsnitz, and Auer- 

 bach, consequently, in an area of 142,027 hectares. The stock of pure Voigtland beasts 

 had formerly been diminished by exportation, which was carried to immoderate 

 lengths. The efforts made by husbandmen and farmers of late to supply the markets 

 •frith as much milk as possible has more and more dislodged or supplanted Voigtland 

 cows. The Voigtland cattle, a reddish brown or bay-colored breed, of small build or 

 stature, have white horns with black tips, and tails with white ends orpoints. 



Accompanying the above communication were a set of tables embody- 

 ing all the information obtainable from their cattle census of 1883. 



While they do not conform strictly to the requirements of the blank 

 tables furnished by the Department, I have thought it advisable and 

 best to copy and transmit them in the form received from the statisti- 

 cal bureau. The labor was great, and the courtesy corresponding, by 

 the statistical bureau, which I duly acknowledged in appropriate terms, 

 and promised reciprocal courtesies at any time by this consulate, or any 

 Department of the Government of the United States, when desired. 



The courtesy, not only in this instance, but at all times, and by all 

 departments of the Saxon Government, has always been complete and 

 satisfactory, and it gives me great pleasure to assure the Department 

 of it. 



^ „ ' JOS. T. MASON, 



United States Consulate, Consul. 



Dresden, November 26, 1885. 



