24 IIISTORV AXI) STAT IS'IICS ol' Till': CATTLI'. INDUSTRY. 



ll W'liM lie inturcbling Iw trace the liistur\- nf cattle, step 1)\ step, in tlieir 

 iiiipru\enieiit front the carhest lime, bttt front the facts which history gives it 

 would lie a hard nialtcr to get anj- satisfactory uiformation. The hrst systematic 

 lu'ecder 'if whom we ha\"e any record was Jacob. It is reasonably certain that he 

 understood something of the principles of mating cattle, but did not use his under- 

 standing so much in the matter of impro^-ing the breed, or the good qualities 

 for milking or beef, as he did in producing cattle of different colors. 



This was with a \iew to securing a mingling of these colors in the offspring. 



There lia\e been many distincti\'c breeds of cattle known from the beginning of 

 the historical era. Still, it is only within the last two centuries that any careful, 

 s\steniatic breeding lias been attempled, and only within the last se\'enty-hve years 

 ha\e greater results been accomplished and the greatest progress toward perfection 

 been made. 



STATISTICS OF THE CATTLE INDUSTRY. 



The cattle industry of the United States is one of the greatest industries in the 

 country. Statistics show that for a period extending over fifty years from 1850 to 

 1900 the numlier of cattle consumed by the American people has fallen from 

 twenty-h\"e to twent)' for every one hundred of the popiulation, the number con- 

 siimeil in 18.^() being twenty-live for each one hundred, and in 1900 the number 

 consumed was twenty for each one hundred. 



Puring this time the number of cattle has increased largely, showing a loss 

 during but one decade, which extended over the period from 1860 to 1870, covering 

 the time of the Civil War in the United States. 



In ISSO the cattle in this country numbered 18,000,000. 



In 1860 the cattle in this country numbered 26,000,000. 



In 1870 the cattle in this country numbered 24,000,000. 



In 1880 the cattle m this country numbered 33,000,000. 



In 1890 the cattle in this country numbered 42,000,000. 



In 1900 the cattle in this country numbered 67,000,000. 



In 1910 the cattle m this country numbered 69,000,000. 



While the decades frcnn 1870 to 1900 show a large average increase, the gain 

 from 1900 to 1910 is very small. The gain made is due entireU' to the increase 

 of milch cows, for wdiile these received an accession of 3,445,212, or 20.1 per cent, 

 dunii,g this decade, other cattle show a loss of 2,381,184. The total value of all 

 cattle increased during this period only because of the greater number and 

 increased valuation of milch cows, their gain approximating $196,000,000. The 

 a\erage \alue of dairy cows increased during this decade from $29.68 to $34.24 

 per head. 



During the period from 1890 to 1900 the milk production of this country shows 

 an increase of almost 40 per cent in the total production. In 1890 the average 

 amount of milk consumed each day by a family of five persons amounted to but 

 little over one pint a day, while in 1900 the average consumption by a family of 

 fi\'e persons amounted to one quart a day. This shows the per capita consumption 

 doubled during a period of ten years. During this same period not only the 

 quantity of milk is increased, but also the quality has been steadily improving, so 

 that today one quart of milk contains much more nutriment than it did ten years 

 ago. This increased production and improved quality is due not only to the 

 increase in the number of cows in the country, but also to the improved methods 

 of care and breeding. 



