434 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. 



tance of this city get 2f cents per liter for their milk, retailers selling 

 it for 3 J to 4J cents ; in the country the usual contract price is 21. cents 

 per liter. 



Butter.—The good reputation of Silesian butter dates, it is asserted, 

 from the middle ages, and is still deserved. As an article that will keep, 

 and, therefore, adapted for exporting, it is considered equal to the 

 Mecklenberg and Danish butter. The monntain'butter at present com- 

 mands the highest price in this market. Good table butter costs from 

 28J to 35f cents per pound. In midwinter the price is frequently 

 higher. 



Cheese. — Cheese-making has not attained any great perfection or 

 proportions, and little technical skill has been developed by the manu- 

 facturers. Besides some imitations of Swiss, Limburger, and Dutch 

 cheese, small Silesian cheeses, called " koppenkase," are produced. 

 These are sold mainly in the province and in the Berlin retail market. 

 Foreign cheese, notably English, Dutch, French, Swiss, Italian, and 

 Russian, is sold here in considerable quantities. 



CATTtB PAIES IN SILESIA. 



In recent years cattle fairs, initiated by the Government, have done 

 much toward improving the breeds of cattle in Silesia, as well as other 

 parts of Prussia. A lively competition for the premiums offered for 

 the best bulls, cows, and oxen has been incited among the owners of 

 the larger estates by these exhibitions. 



CATTLE IMPOETS AND EXPORTS OP SILESIA. 



Although many foreign cattle are imported for breeding and dairy pur- 

 poses, but few animals are purchased abroad for fattening. Some lean, 

 coarse cattle are brought from the east and southeast by dealers to be 

 fattened for the market, but their number is comparatively insignificant. 

 Cattle are exported hence to Saxony, Berlin, the western and Eh^ne prov- 

 inces, ixnd some to Hamburg. From Hamburg they sometimes go to 

 England, but the shipments to that country from here direct are infre- 

 quent. The export of fat cattle from Silesia amounts to from 50,000 to 

 70,000 head per annum. Besides the best qualities of slaughter cattle, 

 some working oxen are also exported. Among the best cattle for ex- 

 port hence are the Oldenburg breed for working oxen, having hard 

 hoofs and great endurance ; the Wilstermarsch (Holstein) and Dutch 

 cross, an abundance of milk and good meat ; Shorthorn and Oldenburg 

 crofes, the former making much fat the latter much meat, and combined 

 producing the best butcher-'s meat. The Shorthorn has a soft hoof, 

 disqualifying it as a worker. 



The freight from here to Hamburg for a car-load of 10 to 13 cattle of 

 an average weight of 1 ,400 pounds is $4.50, including fare of attendant. 

 Time, 24 to 30 hours. The cattle are closely tethered to the floor of the 

 car, and are neither fed nor watered on the road. 



As a rule, the best slaughter cattle are purchased by the dealers for 

 export, leaving the poorer descriptions for consumption'within the prov- 

 ince. At the last cattle market iu this city 364 head were offered, 147 

 being oxen, 217 cows. The prices paid (slaughtered weight) were 

 $14.04 to $14.28 per cwt., exchisive of market fees or octroi tax, for 

 " prime " cattle, $11.66 to $11.90 for medium, and $0.66 to $7.14 for 

 poor lots. Export cattle fetch on the farms, live weight, $9.52 per cwt. 

 for prime steers, $7.14 to $8.52 for good quality, and $5.96 to $6.43 for 

 lean animals. The cattle ibr export are Shipped at stations beyond the 

 city and pay no city dues. 



