30 FARM ANIMALS 
11. Increase in animal production—In recent years 
farm animals have not increased in numbers as rapidly 
as have the inhabitants, but the value of animals has in- 
creased much more rapidly. Much of this is due to in- 
crease in the individual merit of the animals. 
In 1850 the average 
weight of wool was 2.4 
pounds per sheep; in 1910 
it was 6.9 pounds. Thus, 
while in 50 years sheep 
have not doubled in num- 
bers, the production of 
wool has increased more 
than five times. This is a 
striking example of the 
value of improvement in 
breeding, because the im- 
- provement in wool produc- 
FREE EDUCATION tion is due to the influence 
of heredity in far greater 
b : 
AS rnnehy. 50:0 Sie by Pale tie dee: We degree than to the effect of 
improved feeding. 
: . Beef cattle offer another 
illustration of the way in which animal products have been in- 
creased without increasing the number of animals. Formerly beef 
cattle were matured in their fourth, fifth and sixth year. They are 
now placed in the market in their second and third year. The in- 
crease in the size of horses and the increased production of butter 
fat per cow which have occurred in the past century are hardly less 
important factors in increasing the value of domestic animals and 
their products. 
12. Advantages of keeping live stock.—The most strik- 
ing ,advantages affecting the farmer are: (1) Animals 
make it possible to use land that would be wholly or 
partly unproductive. (2) They make use of farm crops 
which would be entirely or partially wasted; straw, corn 
stalks, the various hays would not have sufficient value to 
pay for raising if animals were not kept to convert them 
into useful products. (3) In thus acting as machines in 
manufacturing raw materials into those which are much 
more concentrated, thus making their transportation 
