RUSSIA. 519 



RUSSIA. 



CATTLE-BREEDING IN RUSSIA. 



BEFOTtT JBT CONSTTL-OENERAL STANTON, OF St. FEtEEStSTIMa. 

 LACK OF CATTLE STATISTICS IN ETJSSIA. 



Eeferring to the Department's circular of July 18, 1883, 1 have the 

 honor to transmit herewith a translation of a document forwarded to 

 this ofiSce from the Ensaiaii department of agriculture. 



In the letter accompanying this document the director of the depart- 

 ment of agriculture, General Eazefi'sky, informs me that the minister 

 has just appointed a committee of experts to inquire into the system of 

 cattle-breeding in Russia, both from an economic and technical' point 

 of view. 1 



The proceedings of the committee will be published in a separate re- 

 port and sent in due course to the consulate-general. 



This report shall be translated and forwarded to the Department im- 

 mediately upon its receipt. 



I regret that the information supplied by the department of agricult- 

 ure should be so meager and indefinite, but transmit it, hoping it may 

 contain possibly something of interest. 



I am promised full replies for Tinland, and still hope to secure fur- 

 ther details for Russia. 



CATTLE BEEEDS IN RUSSIA. 



The cattle I'aised in Russia are principally local breeds and seldom 

 crossed with foreign varieties. 



They are mostly small, the height over the shoulder being frbm 1 

 meter to 1.15, the minimum being 0.90, the maximum 1.35 meters. The 

 difference in height is due to surrounding conditions. 



A great many foreign breeds have been imported for jlrivate estates ; 

 but up to the present time there are no regular breeding establishments 

 for mixed varieties. 



MILKING QUALITIES OP KUSSIAN CATTLE. 



Only the Kolmogory cattle, the product of crossing local cattle with 

 Dutch breeds, which exists at the mouth of the Diiina, present a regu- 

 lar and settled typo. 



They are remarkable for their yield of milk, and are the favorite breed 

 in St. Petersburg, where a great number of cows of this breed are 

 brought. 



