Dec. 1895.] 



AGRICULTURE IN SPAIN. 



281 



The accompanying table exhibits the number of domestic 

 animals in Spain in the year 1891. The figures are, however, 

 admitted to be incomplete. 



Number of Live Stock in 1891. 



Horses . . . - 397,172 



Mules ----- 767,928 



Asses ----- 753,914 



Cattle - - - - - 2,217,659 



Sheep ----- 13,359,473 



Goats ----- 2,534,219 



Swine- - - - - 1,927.864 



The breeding of horses and cattle has recently deteriorated in 

 Spain, which, instead of being able, as formerly, to improve 

 foreign stock, is dow largely indebted to England for the better 

 class of horses, and to France for draught horses, while the 

 country also imports sheep and cattle from Africa and the 

 Canaries, and pork from America. It is said that horse breeding 

 does not now yield a sufiicient profit, owners of large breeding 

 establishments realising at best but 1 or 2 per cent, on their 

 outlay. 



Elaborate statistics are given in the returns of the cattle sold 

 in the markets of the country, and of the number slaughtered 

 for consumption, but no details are supplied of exports and 

 imports. Minute profit and loss accounts are given concerning 

 the rearing of various domestic animals. The most favourable 

 represent the profit on a cow, which has, say, a calf every second 

 year. The value of these calves, sold when six months old, and 

 of the cow's carcase when slaughtered at 10 years old, is put at 

 about 8^. 15s. ; the wages of a cow-man to look after two cows 

 being about Is. a day. Eight quarts daily is considered a fair 

 average yield of milk, although it is considerably higher when a 

 Swiss or Dutch cross is introduced. The attention of Spanish 

 breeders is rather directed to bone and sinew ; the production 

 of animals strong to labour and of good fighting bulls, rather 

 than milking qualities, being the object in view. A yoke of 

 oxen usually sells for 22^. to 24^., and up to 32/. ; a three-year 

 old bull is worth 16/. to 201, and a cow 10/. to 12/. The 

 province of Madrid makes the rearing of fighting bulls a special 

 industry ; the dryness of the climate being particularly suitable, 

 while the pasturage on the "Sierras "is good. Large numbers 

 of Swiss and Dutch cows are imported to supply Madrid with 

 milk, but the climate is not favourable to them, and it is not found 

 to be a profitable undertaking. Large flocks of goats, fed on 

 the rough pastures round Madrid, also supply milk to the 

 town. These appear to be the most profitable animals to keep, 

 paying in many cases cent, per cent. 



