Breeding^ Rearing, and Feeding Horses, Cattle, and Sheep. 3 
Glancing at the Board of Trade returns, it will be seen that 
the total number of cattle in Great Britain in 1867 was 4,993,034, 
as compared with 5,337,759 in 1871, and 6,012,824 in 1875. 
The head of cattle has thus materially increased during the last 
eight years. In fact, these figures show an increase of fully one 
million head, or about one in six. The total of last year 
is the highest on record, excepting that of 1874, which was 
greater by 112,667. It is more than likely that the actual 
increase of cattle has been less since 1867 than these figures 
represent. Some allowance must be made for the fact that a 
suspicion, at first entertained by many occupiers, that the statistics 
might lead to more taxation, gradually disappeared to a con- 
siderable extent, and so more schedules were annually returned. 
Taking this into account, I do not believe that we have 17 per 
cent, more cattle in Britain now than we had eight years ago. 
With so much encouragement in the form of a growing demand 
and substantial rise in price, more numbers were to be expected, 
and have unquestionably been kept, though somewhat myste- 
riously a decrease is noted during the last twelv^e months. 
Possibly, also, the increase in numbers is not more marked, even 
in the course of the last ten years, than the improved condition 
and heavier weights of the animals sent to the fat market. This 
is the result of more attention to the feeding, and especially the 
" finishing" of the cattle, on which, however, I hope to be able 
to show there is yet great room for improvement in many parts 
of the country. 
Most practical farmers will be prepared for the statement that 
the advance in numbers has not been quite so great in Ireland 
as in Britain in the period referred to. Nevertheless, the increase 
in the Emerald Isle has been considerable. In 1867 the head 
of cattle in that country amounted to 3,707,803. In 1871 it 
was 3,976,372, and last year, 4,111,990. The increase has 
been chiefly since 1870. The total number of cattle returned 
in the United Kingdom in 1867 was 8,731,473, as against 
10,124,814 in 1875. 
The agricultural returns, curiously enough, do not indicate such 
an increase of sheep as of cattle, either in Great Britain or Ireland, 
though it is well known that in many districts sheep have lately 
done better than any other kind of stock, and have taken, to 
some extent, the place of cattle. In 1867-68 the greatest number 
of sheep is recorded, both in England and Ireland. From 1866 
to 1869 the numbers were higher than for any corresponding 
period since. This was due principally to the unfortunate and 
destructive visitation of rinderpest in 1865-66. After that, for 
a time, farmers in many localities turned their attention to sheep, 
B 2 
