54 BULLETIN" 1266, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
supervised in such complete detail as is done by cooperative associa- 
tions, private merchants through their local egg-collecting activities 
have brought about great improvement in the trade. 
COOPERATIVE CATTLE EXPORT ASSOCIATIONS. 
DENMARK'S SURPLUS MEAT PRODUCTION. 
Milk production is the predominating factor in the Danish dairy 
industry, but it is accompanied by a large meat production, chiefly 
made up of calves, undesirable young heifers and bulls, and dis- 
carded and old cows. The two popular native Danish dairy breeds 
are dual purpose in character. Meat production occurs throughout 
Denmark, but is more important on the Jutland Peninsula and 
especially west and southwest Jutland, where the lowland marshes 
make good grazing. The Shorthorn breed, imported from England, 
has gained in popularity in this section during the last 20 years. 
Denmark has more cattle per thousand inhabitants than any other 
country on the European continent. 36 In pre-war times, besides sup- 
plving the meat consumption of the nation, Denmark exported a sur- 
plus of 150.000 to 180,000 head of cattle annuallv. In 1913, Denmark 
exported 152,000 head of cattle and 33,300,000 {pounds of meat. Be- 
fore the AYorld War, Germany was the chief market. Then the 
average weekly export to Germany was between 2,000 and 3,000 
live cattle. During the last two or three years, considerable diffi- 
culty has been experienced in disposing of surplus cattle. The de- 
preciated German mark has almost prohibited cattle export there. 
However, the scarcity of meat in other countries on the continent 
has at times opened new markets. During the last two or three years, 
Denmark has sent cattle for slaughtering to Germany, Belgium, 
France, Switzerland, Italy, Czechoslovakia, and Xorway. Such ex- 
ports to foreign countries have been irregular and often seriously 
handicapped by a series of Government import restrictions enacted 
by several European nations. 
Cattle slaughtering in Denmark is usually for home meat consump- 
tion only. It has been more desirable to export cattle on the hoof 
to Germany and other countries on the Continent than slaughter at 
home and export the meat. The packing and transportation facili- 
ties for meat have not been satisfactory and under normal conditions 
the live cattle brought larger returns. During the winter months, 
especially in recent years, some cattle are butchered in Denmark 
and the meat shipped to England and continental European coun- 
tries because of import restrictions in live cattle. 
DANISH CATTLE MARKETS. 
Cattle are exported through several markets, generally in seaport 
cities. Each market center may have one or two market days each 
week. The principal cattle market cities are Esjberg. Aalborg, 
Holstebro, Odense, Copenhagen, and Nykobing, F. Farmers living 
near one of these market centers drive cattle in. while those at dis- 
tances from market centers ship them by railway. 
36 Annuaire International do Statistique Agricole, 1913 ot 1014. Rome. 
