Farm Live Stock.—Canada is well suited to the raising of all descriptions of farm live stock, although sheep in the central and colder parts cannot be kept out of doors during winter in the large flocks that are customary in countries with milder climates. As a general rule, Canadian farm animals are remarkably free from disease, and the more virulent con tagious maladies are entirely absent. The accompanying table shows the total number of horses, cattle, sheep and swine in the census years 1901 and 1911, and as estimated annually at the end of June by the Census and Statistics Office for the years 1912 to 1916.
Fine horses, both light and heavy, are bred in all the provinces. Horse ranching is prac tised largely in southern Alberta and in south west Saskatchewan under the favorable con ditions of comparatively mild winters and light snowfall with abundant wild hay and pasture. There is a good demand for heavy horses, both for agricultural purposes and for the drawing of logs from the lumber camps. The favorite draught horse is the Clydesdale, a medium size being usually preferred for farm work. Next in importance comes the Per cheron of which by far the larger number are in Alberta. The French Canadian is the draught horse of the French farmers in Quebec. The English Shire horse is also raised principally in Ontario, and there are small numbers of the Suffolk Punch and of Belgian breeds. Among the light breeds the Standard Bred trotter, used largely in trotting and pac ing races, and the Hackney predominate. Thoroughbreds and coach horses are also raised. Animals for cavalry and mounted in fantry remounts are produced in all the prov inces, and have been especially in demand for the war. In 1911 the number of pure-bred horses was 33,149, an increase of 22,393, or 208 per cent since 1901. Of the total, 19,911 or 60 per cent were Clydesdales. During the five years ended 31 March 1910-14 the average number of horses annually exported, chiefly across the southern border, was about 2,600; but in 1916 the exports rose to 26,818, of which management of skilled floclanasters. Nearly all the leading British breeds are to be found in Canada, the most numerous being the Shrop shire, Oxford Down, Leicester, Cotswold and Southdown breeds. At the census of 1911 there were 53,616 pure bred sheep in Canada. The industry, in spite of earnest efforts to en courage it on the part of the government, has steadily declined. In 1881 the total number of sheep in Canada was 3,048,678; in 1911 the number was 2,175,302, a falling off of 873,376, or 28 per cent. Since the census of 1911 the numbers have continued to decline, and the estimated number on 30 June 1916 was 2,022,941, a further decline, since the census of 1911, of 152,361. The average price of wool has in creased materially during the war; the prices in 1916 for washed and unwashed wool being respectively 50 and 37 cents per pound, as com pared with 26 and 19 cents in 1914. Swine,
unlike sheep, have increased steadily in num bers during the last 30 or 40 years. In 1881 they numbered 1,207,619, and in 1911 3,634,778. Swine raising, especially in the West, is a fluctuating industry, being largely dependent upon cheap feeding grain. When for instance prices rose suddenly on the outbreak of the war, pig feeding on the Prairie provinces be came unremunerative, and large numbers were immediately thrown on the market at nominal prices. On 30 June 1916, the estimated number of swine in Canada was 3,474,840. The prin cipal breeds are the Yorkshire, Berkshire, 21,833 went to Great Britain, most of them as military remounts.
Cattle, principally of British origin, are bred in all the provinces, and, as in the case of horses, there are large ranches in Saskatche wan and Alberta. The beef breeds include Shorthorns, Herefords, Aberdeen Angus and Galloways, Shorthorns comprising the great majority. In Ontario cattle raising is a very important industry, the animals being fattened on grass lands during summer and in the stable during winter. Of late years, especially in the western counties of Ontario, fine herds ofpure bred cattle have gradually been established, and their quality has been maintained by large im portations from the mother country. As a consequence the trade in pure bred stock with the United States has been considerably de veloped. Cattle throughout Canada have been reduced in numbers by slaughter for the pur pose of meat exports to Great Britain in con sequence of the war, but herds are being gradually replenished by the breeding of young stock. Amongst dairy cattle are the Short horn, Ayrshire, Jersey, French Canadian and Holstgin-Freisian breeds. Many parts of the Dciminion are quite favorable for the keeping of sheep and for the production of mutton and wool of the highest quality; but for various reasons this branch of the live stock industry has not been followed so generally as it might have been. In individual cases, however, sheep raising has proved very profitable under the Chester White and Tamworth; but the York shire largely predominate. In 1911, 56,457 pure bred swine were returned as on Canadian farms. Poultry raising as an adjunct to ordi nary farming has made great strides. In 1911 the numbers of all descriptions of poultry were 31,793,261 of the value of $15,047,009, as com pared with 17,922,658 in 1901 of the value of $5,723,890. The production of eggs in 1911 was 123,071,034 dozen, value $23,501,173. Tur keys are easily reared in Canada, and are often a valuable source of additional farm revenue.