488 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. 



are smaller than those in Birkenfeld and the Eifel, but the quality of 

 their meat is much liner. A good cow costs about $ 1 40,^ am I an ox or 

 bull $165, while a one year-old bull can be bought for $to. 



THE EXPEL BREED. 



The Eifel is also a mountainous district, about 45 milts in length 

 and 24 miles in breadth, situated between the rivers Rhine, Moselle, 

 and Boer. The cattle here are very strong, and are used for agncult- 

 ural purposes and often in place of horses. They are not recommemled 

 for export, on account of the peculiar country and soil to which they 

 are accustomed. They cost about the same as the Birkenfeld breed, 

 although they are much smaller. 



HOUSING AND FEEDING. 



The generality of these different breeds of cattle are kept in stables 

 during a greater part of the year, and graze in the meadows after the 

 grass is cut. Plenty of good water is indispensable to the health 

 of the animals. While in stables, and if in the neighborhood of sugar 

 manufactories, they are fed upon the remains of sweet turnips, which 

 are considered very excellent for food, and in other places they receive 

 hay, bran, the refuse from distilleries, cut turnips, and oil and linseed 

 cakes. . 



The only species which is in the open air most of the year is tne 

 Birkenfeld or Oldenburg. They give milk for almost nine months of 

 the year, and during the first three months as much as the remaining 

 six together, the quantity varying in the first months from 15 to 18 liters 

 I)er day. 



CATTLE-MARKET OP NEUSS. 



The principal market for the sale of cattle is in the city of Neuss not, 

 far from C61ogne. Animals are sent there for sale from the Rhine 

 Province, Birkenfeld, Holland, &c., and a large proportion of the buy- 

 ers are Belgians. 



SHIPMENT OF CATTLE TO THE UNITED STATES. 



The most convenient and cheapest way of sending cattle to the United 

 States from here is by rail to Antwerp, a distance of 157 miles from 

 Cologne, and from there by steamers to New York. The cars vary in 

 size, but one of 18 square meters accommodates nine cattle, and costs 

 88.80 francs or $17.14 to Antwerp. A man must be employed, at the 

 rate of $1.10 i)er day, to accompany the animals, and 75 cents is charged 

 for cleaning and disinfecting the car at the end of the journey. Hay 

 for feeding costs 40 cents, muking the total ex])enses to Antwerp $19.39, 

 or $2.15 for each animal. From there they can be shipped to New; York 

 in the steamers of the White Cross Line- at the following rates: £6 (or 

 $29.20) each for full-grown cattle, £5 (or $24.33) each for yearlings, and 

 £4 (or $19.47) each for calves. These sums include all charges. 



The annexed statements give the statistics for cattle-breeding in this 

 consular district, as far as I have been able to obtain them. 



SAMUEL SPACKMAN, 



Consul. 



United States Consulate, 



Cologne, December 19, 1885. 



