and difficult task. It will be noticed from the table that the consump tion of beef in the ranch district is greater, considering the difference in population, than in the States. This is due to the fact that they raise and use but little pork, and thus use beef almost exclusively.

AGE AT WHICH MARKETED.

The age at which our cattle are marketed is dependent largely upon the breed in use and the cost of raising. In Texas, Colorado, and in fact in all the ranch district, where the cost of keeping is light and the inferior breeds are in use, the cattle marketed for beef, at least those shipped to the centers of trade, are usually kept until four or even five years old. This is also true of Arkansas and Louisiana. In Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, and other places where there are a large per cent. of graded cattle, and where a great many of the beeves are stall fed, they are frequently marketed at two years of age, and generally at from three to four. Where they have to be fed for a long period during the year, it is more profitable to crowd them as much as possible, and thus fit them for market at an early age. Those used for supplying the home or local market are of various ages, generally speaking heifers and old

Cows.

METHODS OF TRANSPORTATION AND SUGGESTED IMPROVEMENTS.

The question of transportation is one which has been considered by every stockman. Cheap, quick, and safe transportation is what is wanted. The greater portion of beeves are transported by rail, and many suggestions as to improvements have been made by shippers, all of which would entail a greater or less expense upon railroad companies, thereby rendering any such improvements of slow introduction. Some suggest what they term a palace stock-car, having a separate apartment for each animal, and arrangements in the car for feeding and watering without unloading. Such cars would curtail the loss to shippers very much, and at the same time the cattle upon arrival at the markets would be in better condition to make good beeves. With the present ordinary stock-car, all the profits on a car-load of animals are not unfrequently taken up with losses occasioned by the dead, crippled, and maimed ones. Shrinkage is another source of considerable loss to shippers, and this could be reduced very much by a more rapid transit.

In Wyoming and elsewhere in the West arrangements have been made to slaughter the animals at suitable points and ship the dressed beef instead of the live animal. Several of these slaughter houses are in successful operation, and should such a thing become general much loss in the way of shrinkage, extra freight, and expense of hands to accompany cattle to market will be saved.

COST OF FEEDING.

The cost of raising and feeding cattle until marketable as beeves varies a great deal in the different States and even in different locali. ties of the same State, depending as it does upon the advantages afforded in the way of grazing and cost of producing grain. In the ranch district the cost will range from $7 to $12 per head. Texas grazing being the least expensive, a grass fatted beef will cost the raisers about $7, whilst the same aged one in Colorado will cost about $8.40.

In the States where stall and winter feeding is done the cost is very much greater, an average estimate being for a three year old steer

from $25 to $30. Then to find the actual cost of the steer when ready for the market, it will be necessary to add the expense of stall feeding, and this is variously estimated at from 5 to 7 cents per pound for the number of pounds increase from the time feeding begins. On an aver age, by good feeding, the increase will be from 250 to 275 pounds, or an average of, say 265 pounds, which, at 6 cents per pound, makes an outlay of $15.90 for stall feeding. This added to the cost of raising will make a corn-fed beef animal cost from $41 to $46.

CONDITION OF CATTLE AT THE VARIOUS SEASONS OF THE YEAR, THE MODES OF SHELTERING AND PROTECTING THEM, AND LOSSES FROM EXPOSURE.

The condition of cattle during the summer and fall months is good in almost every locality where raised. The latter part of winter and early spring, however, frequently finds them in a very different and opposite condition, due mainly to the want of proper shelter and the lack of a sufficient quantity of nutritious food.. Farmers and stock-raisers of the West are entirely too careless about the manner in which they provide stock shelters. If any at all are provided they are of the very poorest class. As a general thing the cattle of the West, with the exception of a few blooded animals, are left to care for themselves in respect to shelter, and can, during the winter season, be found hovering around some straw-stack, side-hill, or skirt of timber. The loss, however, occasioned from this source is very much lighter than one would expect. In Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Kansas, and Arkansas the average is from 1 to 2 per cent. In the States and Territories where but little or no winter feed is used the per cent. of loss is greater, being in the ranch district from 2 to 7 per cent. The ranchmen calculate to lose about 3 to 5 per cent. from exposure, and consider it less expensive than providing shelter and winter food.

DISEASES.

For the present year I have no reports of any great losses from diseases of any kind, either contagious or otherwise. In this respect the cattlemen have been more fortunate this year than last. The slight losses reported have been chiefly from Texas fever, murrain, and blackleg. In several localities in Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri considerable loss among young cattle was reported from blackleg; but in no locality was this loss estimated at over 2 per cent., and about the same loss in parts of the ranch district from other diseases. Taking an average of the whole country, the loss from disease among cattle may be said to be very light. Missouri cattlemen were very much excited last spring over the outbreak of pleuro-pneumonia among a herd at Fulton, Callaway County, but fortunately by prompt action upon the part of both State and Government officials, the actual loss was very insignificant.

TEXAS FEVER.

The disease among cattle commonly known as Texas or splenic fever has been so thoroughly discussed and investigated that it is hardly possible to add or suggest any new ideas on the subject. From the best information Texas produces for sale nearly 1,000,000 head of cattle which are either shipped direct to market or driven to the northwestern ranches, about two-thirds of this number being driven to the ranches. As a

breeding ground Texas is far superior to any section of the Union, and as a consequence can produce young cattle, and even beef cattle, for much less money than the ranches of other States and Territories. This fact, it is claimed by the Texas cattlemen, creates a greater opposition to the shipment of cattle north and northwest than the damage resulting from Texas fever. Whether these men are correct remains a disputed question. From various sections the reports of correspondents indicate losses ranging from 1 to 5 per cent. occasioned from this disease, whilst in many others they ridicule the idea of such a thing, as will be seen in the following report from an Iowa correspondent, who, in reply to the question as to the number and value of losses from Texas fever and other diseases, says:

Cattle disease in the northwest is a humbug and a myth, existing only in the minds of veterinary surgeons, and some office-seekers and office-holders, who wish to feed at the public crib.

Our correspondent is, no doubt, a little radical in his ideas on the subject, but at the same time it is nevertheless true that from newspaper and other reports the facts about the ravages of this and other diseases are very much exaggerated. It is a clearly demonstrated fact that these cattle, when driven or shipped north, do communicate disease, occasioning losses in many localities, as above mentioned. As the surest and best preventive against these ravages, numerous reports suggest quarantine from April 1 to November 1, and it is quite probable that this, together with due diligence exercised in cleaning cars and stockyards where Texas cattle have been, will assist materially in reducing the number lost.

It may be well to say that, from the many communications received at this office, the loss from Texas fever has been light this year as compared with former years. For this difference two reasons might be assigned: First, several of the States and Territories have passed very stringent quarantine laws, and, second, the western and northwestern ranches have all been pretty well stocked, and hence there have not been so many Texas cattle brought in contact with the natives as was the case in other years. Respectfully submitted.

J. N. BRADLEY, Inspector Bureau of Animal Industry.

PAPINVILLE, Mo., October 15, 1885.

CONDITION OF THE LIVE-STOCK INDUSTRY WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI.

Hon. NORMAN J. COLMAN,

Commissioner of Agriculture:

SIR: I have the honor to submit herewith the following report_of work done by me as inspector of the Bureau of Animal Industry. Inasmuch as my instructions were to obtain certain information relative to the cattle interests in the States of Iowa, Mississippi, Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska, and Colorado, and the Territory of Wyoming, through the use of numerous correspondents, for which purpose blanks were furnished by the Department, I proceeded to send out said blanks to postmasters, county officials, officers of live-stock associations, secretaries of State boards of agriculture, and private individuals, for the general and specific information desired, and while many of these blanks have not been returned at all, and yet many others that were returned bring with them only partial replies to the questions propounded, my efforts in this direction have not been altogether fruitless.

Without attempting to enlarge upon the general subject of stock-rais. ing, range herding, and beef production, so ably discussed in reports published in the First Annual Report of the Bureau of Animal Industry, I shall proceed at once to give such information as I have been able to gather in the most concise form possible. To this end I invite attention first to the following table:

Table showing number of cattle in the States and Territory named, extent of territory devoted to pasturage, number of dairy cows, estimated value of the cattle trade, losses by Southern cattle fever, &c.

The breed of cattle most in use in this State is the shorthorn crossed with the Texan and native cows. As dairy animals the Jersey is given the preference; next come the shorthorns, and then the Holsteins,

Devons, and Herefords in the order named. Ninety-three correspondents give the annual rate of increase from 10 to 95 per cent. For the production of beef shorthorns take the lead; then follows the Hereford breed, the Polled-Angus, and the Galloway. They are marketed at from two and one-half to three and one-half years of age. When sold at two and one-half years of age they are usually purchased from ranchmen by parties who ripen them on corn and sell them at the age of three and one-half years. The animals are generally transported in common. cattle cars to market. The cost of transportation is as follows: To Kansas City, $2.50; Saint Louis, $3.50; Chicago, $4.50. It costs to raise a steer on grass and forage from $2 to $8 per annum; to grain feed, from $35 to $45. The condition of cattle on ranches is generally good from the first of June to the first of January. If well fed and cared for they are usually in good flesh in the spring, but if not they are very poor. On farms they are protected in the winter season by barns and sheds, but on ranches they have but little shelter or protection of any kind. When sheltered and well cared for the loss is usually about 5 per cent. Last winter, where the stock was greatly exposed, the losses were 25 per cent. In some instances the losses exceeded 50 per cent.

There should be lower rates for transportation and better cars, better facilities, and more frequent stoppages for feed and water, and better time made by cattle trains.

As to the various diseases to which animals are liable in this State, fifty-six correspondents mention black-leg; seventeen, murrain; fourteen, caused by smut in corn-fields; nine, Texas fever; six, poison from loco; six, mange; three, black tongue; three, hollow-horn; one, lung fever; one kidney disease, and one, ophthalmy.

Many thousand cattle are brought into this State from Texas, which frequently cause heavy losses by southern cattle fever.

IOWA.

Cattle fed for market in this State are mostly grade shorthorns. The most acceptable breeds for the dairy are Holsteins, Jerseys, shorthorns, and natives, in the order in which they are named. Correspondents give the annual rate of increase of cattle in the State at from 10 to 30 per cent. The breed best adapted to beef production is grade shorthorns. The animals are marketed at from two and one-half to four years of age. They are generally shipped to market centers by rail in ordinary stock cars. The cost of transportation to Chicago is from $1.50 to $5 per head. In this cost is generally included that for feed, yardage, and commission at point of destination. The condition of animals from May 1 to January 1 is generally very good. From January to May they are thin in flesh unless well sheltered, fed, and watered. The aver age loss for want of shelter and proper attention is about 2 per cent. Great impovement could be made in the facilities for transportation of stock by railroads. Lower rates should be charged, and larger and better cars and faster time for stock trains should be afforded. Cattle are affected with but few diseases in this State. A few cases of "murrain" and black-leg, and an occasional outbreak of southern cattle fever, are about all that are mentioned. The losses from disease will not exceed 1 per cent.

MISSISSIPPI.

There are but few imported animals in this State, and the cattle bred and fed for the market are almost entirely of the common native stock. But very little attention is paid to dairy interests. Where any atten