540 CATTLE A.ND DAIRY FAEMING. 



been given to it, public and specific ; given a recognized position that cannot be 

 doubted. Our experience of this breed has been intimate and very satisfactory. We 

 hold by clear and substantial evidence for eight years that the Canadian cow takes 

 no mean place as a milker, a mother, and a field for wide work both for beef and dairy 

 purposes. Much of this is due to her distinct character in more respects than one. 

 She is decidedly content with her average circumstances, miserable as they be at times ; 

 can do as well in the bush as in the clover fields, and responds with her best when 

 the thermometer is at zero or 90° in the shade. Her quantity of milk is not so large 

 as the Ayrshire for six w^eeks after calving, but far ahead in continuance, and there- 

 fore on an average equal ; in cream it is unquestionably superior to the Ayrshire. No 

 one well acquainted with the breeds would choose the Ayrshire against the Canadian 

 where hardships and profits, under ordinary conditions, were elements ; so also in re- 

 gard to a common source for cheap production of beef with Shorthorn or Hereford 

 bull ; other bulls have not as yet been sufficiently tried except the Ayrshire and Devon, 

 which cannot compare with these two. While small as a heifer, the Canadian cow 

 is roomy as a breeder, and this affords field enough for such purpose. I am confident 

 that a proper selection of the milking-Canadiau would add immensely to the dairy 

 and beefing interests of the country. 



It is also in evidence that the farmers of Canada, do not as a rule, 

 take the'best of care of their stock. Mr. John Clay jr., a witness before 

 the commission, speaks very strongly on this subject, he says : 



I believe my remark about the farmers badly housing and feeding their cattle in 

 the winter applies generally to farmers in Canada. Their buildings are as a rule 

 drafty and cold, and the amount of food they give to their cattle is not enough to 

 keepuptlieir frames. This practice is very general throughout Canada. Although 

 you will find some of our farmers who keep their cattle in very good condition, I be- 

 lieve the percentage of farmers in Canada who neglect the proper feeding and hous- 

 ing of their cattle is fully 60 per cent. 



United States Commercial Agency, 



Ottawa, October 3, 1885 



E. B. BOBBINS, 



Commercial Agent. 



CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING IN ONTARIO. 



REPORT OF aONSVL FACE. OF FORT SARNIA. 

 THE NATIVE CATTLE BKED OUT. 



In compliance with Department circular, under date of July 18, 1883, 

 I send herewith such information as I have been able to obtain (by act- 

 ual observation and otherwise) touching the breeding of cattle in 

 Canada. For a number of years back the Canadian farmer has shown 

 commendable zeal and much good judgment in the direction of the im- 

 provement of his cattle. By crossing the native cattle with imported 

 breeds from Europe the old style of ox and cow have nearly disappeared 

 from the pastures, the distinctive features of the Shorthorn, the Gallo- 

 way, the Hereford, the Ayrshire, and other breeds are clearly observable 

 in the various farm-yards of Ontario, and in many sections of this prov- 

 ince purely native cattle would be regarded as a curiosity. 



CANADIAN POLLED ANGUS CATTLE. 



On the 30th of October last I visited the stock farm of the Messrs. 

 Geary Bros., near London, and through the courtesy of Mr. John Geary 

 1 was shown the splendid herd of Polled Angus cattle owned by his 

 hrm. I saw in one inclosure, arranged in such a manner as to be seen 



