TEXAS FEVER.

In addition to the report of the hog and fowl industry, I was required to give in this special report of the State of Missouri an estimate of the number and value of cattle lost by what is known as splenic or Texas fever. A few counties in the southern part of the State report a slight loss from this disease, but it was so small that it would be useless to give it in a table by counties. The losses reported have been chiefly confined to counties through which a railroad leading from the ranch district of Texas passed.

There are now but few Texas cattle kept or fed in this State. Sev. eral years ago large droves were driven into Missouri to be stall fed, and it was at this time that our native cattle suffered largely. What few Texas cattle have been fed here for the past few years were brought in at a season of the year when there was little or no danger of communicating the disease. The greatest loss from this source will, perhaps, be found among stock cattle bought by feeders from stock. yards wherein Texans have been kept. On the whole, the loss within the last few years has been very trifling as compared with that of former years.

Respectfully submitted.

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

PAPINVILLE, Mo., September 1, 1885.

CATTLE INTERESTS WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI.

Hon. NORMAN J. COLEMAN,

Commissioner of Agriculture:

SIR: I have the honor to submit a report of the cattle industry for the States and Territories west of the Mississippi River. This may be said to be the beef-producing area of the United States. The last decade has witnessed a marked change in the cattle industry of this section both as to number and grade. The range and ranche cattle business of the West has grown to enormous proportions, thus furnishing a fair quality of beef at reasonable rates. What twenty years ago was an enterprise in embryo is to-day a colossal affair representing millions of capital.

My first design was to give a tabulated report by counties, but this was rendered impracticable, owing to the fact that it was impossible, even with the most diligent efforts, to secure sufficient data from many of the counties contained in the twenty-one States and Territories embraced in the district west of the Mississippi to make such a report. Communications were directed to leading stockmen in each of the 1,139 counties included in these States and Territories, but from many no reports were received. Enough, however, were obtained to form a good basis for calculations and estimates by States, which system, as a last resort, I have adopted.

The stockmen of the Western ranches seem quite reticent about com. municating any information as to the extent and value of their cattle interest.

The accompanying table is approximately correct as to the number and value of cattle, the grazing area, &c.

I will state by way of explanation that the grazing area as indicated herein includes all lands not actually in cultivation, and no doubt embraces a large per cent. of territory which is even unfit for grazing purposes.

As to the number of cattle devoted to dairy purposes the figures in this table will seem exorbitant, but in these estimates I have included not only those devoted to actual dairy purposes, but also the milch cows kept for family use. The dairy industry of the West is in its infancy, and but a small per cent. of the number indicated in this table are devoted to the dairy business exclusively. The profits of this branch of the animal industry are beginning to be realized and appreciated by our

farmers and stockmen, and a more extensive business in this line is in

store for the near future:

For beef cattle almost three-fourths of the correspondents to this Bureau recommend the shorthorns as the one best adapted to that purpose. Coming from the cattle-breeders, as this does, it is a strong indorsement of that breed. Throughout the whole district the breeders are crossing the common cattle with shorthorns, and all speak of the very best results. A few, however, advocate the claims of the Holstein, Hereford, and Polled Angus, but these indorsements are few as compared with those of the shorthorns. To make a long matter short, the shorthorns and their grades seem to be the best adapted and by far the most popular as beef producers.

Arkansas and Louisiana are two States that do not pay much attention to the cattle traffic, and the reports state that as a general thing only native cattle are raised, with, of course, now and then, a few exceptional herds of blooded animals. What has been said of the shorthorns as beef producers, may with equal propriety be said of the Jerseys as a dairy, breed, although many speak in the highest terms of the Alderney, grade shorthorns, and grade Holsteins.

The dairy business of the West is not sufficiently developed for any great degree of attention to be paid to the breeding of cattle with this single purpose in view, hence many farmers and stock-raisers suggest crosses of the native stock with Holsteins, Herefords, and shorthorns.

ANNUAL CONSUMPTION.

As to the number of cattle annually consumed in each State and Territory, the figures in the accompanying table are estimates, which approx. imate the actual number. To give these figures exact would be a long

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 average, 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 dis- . eases 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