The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-07-26
Future Prospects of the Business of
Fine Stock Breeding.

Hon. T. G. Jones in National Live Stock Journal
We have never known SO much interest
manifested by the farmers of the country
in regard TO the importance of improving
their stock (more especially their cattle) as
has been observed, within the sphere of |
our observation, the present season. We
attribute the fact very largely to the sud-
den and extraordinary development of
foreign demand for American beef. For
this trade, we all understand that poor
srock will not answer. The cost of hand
ling and transportation, even with the low
rate of freights prevailing during the last
twelve months, amount TO a prohibitory
tariff upon the expectation of inferior beef
Hence We find that in the leading cattle
markets purchasers make more important
Determinations in favor of good; we'll fat
ted stock than ever before; and yet the diff.
ference in the ruling prices is not equal to
the real difference in value to the consum-
er, and not so great as it will be in the near
future. Not only for the foreign market,
but for home consumption there is much
greater difference in the real value ofgood
as compared with inferior mest-when we
fairly estimate the per centage of good,
consumable flesh in the carcass-than mar
ket quotations have ever yet indicated;
and it is surprising that our people are
content with the large proportion of poor
beef furnished by their butchers, at prices
that ought TO command the best article
No meat is more savory and delicious than
well-fatted beef of good quality, while that
Of inferior quality, and indiferently fatted,
is the most tasteless and insipid of all flesh.
1t seems that the discrimination of En-
glish butchers, based upon the taste of En-
glish beef-eaters, was required to make this
point clear to our dealers. We therefore
think that the outlook while perhaps less
hopeful for professional breeders of the
most approved strains of fashionable blood
than heretofore, is to the mass of breeders
and farmers more encouraging for regu
lar and steady demand, at reasonably re-
munerative prices, than at any period with.
in our recollection.
In this connection, we must not omit tc
mention the fact that within few week.
there has been developed.
A NEW FEATURE IN THIS BRITISH DE-
MAND FOR AMERICAN MEAT.
/ In the recent discussions of the varieu
n agricultural organizations, as we'll as of th'
. agricultural journals, it has been demon
started that the importation of contagiou
"a diseases, by the importation of live stool
o from abroad, has caused decline In tn
native, English bred stock to more than it
whole amount and that this decline in tn
p production is rapidly increasing.
y The agricultural Gazette, in summing u
At the results of recent discussions on thi
y point, observes:
1t must suffice here, that we state, as tn
main conclusion of these various lecture
IN and addresses, that it is hardly to be doub
ID ed that the Brithish beef-eater would hay
b. been better off if no live stock had eve
J been imported for his food. The foo. an
AT mouth disease, the pleuro-pneumonia an
'r. the rinderpest-and great as has beep II
30 fright which the last named has occasion
ed, 1t is properly placed here among Il
III last, and least injurious hitherto, of Il
- maladies thus named have together d
tv minished and destroyed more beef than h
- been imported with them.
A, The judgment of the public mind, ther
~ fore, seems to be very generally in favor
-, the total prohibition of the importation
~ foreign live stock for slaughter; and Il
indications are that the Government W
soon be driven to the adoption of such
'ur order. The effect ofthis upon the demal
y a for American meat, already in such hi
i've favor, must be most important; for, VIII
nd it is true that dealers IN European Sta
tit whence cattle are now shipped to Engla
for slaughter, will attempt the Americ
ain practice Of shipping dead meats, it must
ses, obvious that, if they ever rival the ent
"- prise of our shippers in this line, tn
success must be the work of time. The IN
al serious difficulty they have to contend W
Is the inferior quality of their stock, a