OCR Text |
Show RECENT TREND OF CATTLE DEVELOPMENT OUTSIDE OF THE IMMEDIATE WAR AREA More Guernseys Have Been Imported to United States During Last 33 Years Than Any Other Breed. (Prepared by the United States Department Depart-ment of Agriculture.) Twenty-nine countries each have more than 2,000,000 cattle. The United States has not the greatest number, as many people suppose, but ranks second sec-ond to India by more than 100,000,000. During the last 33 years Guernseys led by far all other breeds in numbers of purebred cattle imported into this country, and of the tive breeds lead-ins lead-ins the importations, four were distinctive dis-tinctive dairy types. More than 8,750 Guernsey cattle were imported ; Jerseys ranged second sec-ond in numbers, with Durhams, including in-cluding Shorthorns, third, Holsteins fourth, and Ayrshlres fifth. The volume vol-ume of purebred cattle importations has been extremely variable. Trend of Industry. These are a few of many facts about the dairy industry that are brought out in Circular No. 7, recently published by the United States department de-partment of agriculture, which shows, chiefly by graphic charts, the trend of the industry in this country and its relation to the world trend. The circular reports statistics of cattle cat-tle in the various countries as far back as 1850, when the earliest dependable information was received. Compared with other decades the. world has had more cattle in recent years than ever before, although it must be remembered remem-bered population has increased also. Owing to the wide variations in the quality of herds in the different countries, coun-tries, the circular says, the charts must not he considered an indication of relative meat or dairy resources. The circular says the general trend oi cattle development is. First, work animals ; next, raising cattle for commercial com-mercial beef; and, finally, commercial dairying in addition to the business of meat production. Throughout the world the cattle in dirstry shows general growth, but has made its greatest advance in regions where pasturage and feeds are more abundant. The recent trend of cattle develop ment indicates that beef production and dairying are progressing, gen-1 erally, outside the immediate war area. Countries which depend largely ot imported feeds appear to maintain relatively few cattle In addition to their dairy cows, which have gradu-. ally replaced other cattle. Less Fluctuation in Cows. Dairy cows have shown less fluctuation fluctu-ation in number than total cattle. This condition is noteworthy throughout the world over long periods inciting adverse ad-verse conditions, such as disease, drought and war. European experiences indicate that when a country has reached the practical prac-tical limit of cattle the land will main tain further increase of milk production produc-tion is obtained by improving the yield per cow. It appears logical that the United States can best meet changed world conditions, first, by increasing simultaneously simul-taneously both the number and quality qual-ity of its cattle; second, by constant attention to economy of production j and third, by maintenance of cattle raising and dairying in conjunction with general farming, thus reducing dependence on purchased feeds. |