New-York tribune., 1881-12-25
AMERICAN CATTLE ABROAD.

WHY A SMALLER NUMBER HAS BEEN SHIPPED THIS
YEAR THAN FoRMERLY-PREyALENCE OF CAT
TIE DISEASE.
TRIBUNE reporter recently visited several
shippers OF cattle and beef in order to learn the
cause Of the reduced expectation of live cattle and
beef during the present season. and also to ascertain
the views of cattle dealers in regard to the foot
and mouth disease appearing among American
cattle on landing in England. n report in relation
to which, made by DR.. Charles p. Lyman 20 the
Commissioner Of Agriculture at Washington was
published III THE TRIBUNE on November 81.
Francis H. Ralph said that the present small ex-
pOrtatOu of cattle due simply TO the fact that
there was no profit in the business. AT this time
last year." said he, cattle coud-be bought at 10
cents % pound dressed weight and could be sold in
Liverpool and Glasgow at l6 cents. which would
paya profit of about $l5 q head. Now we must
pay l3 cents pound. making bullock cost about
- more than last year. The English market has
been supplied with an unusual amount of native
beef for the reason that short crops have compelled
the Euglish farmers to sell of their cattle TO
greater extent than usual That supply cannot
last however, and eventually prices must go up on
the other side. At present we are exporting
scarcely any cattle, while last year dealer
shipped 1000 another 2O,O00 and third $4,000
head of cattle. One reason for the higher price Of
cattle in this country is the short corn crop. Corn
could be bought in Canada for 20 cents last year.
but costs 10 cents this year. For this same cause
farmers are sending their cattle to market only half
fattencd and the beet cattle have already been
marketed.
among American cattle, | never heard OF the
malaGy appearing on this side of the water. The
cattle that were condemned on beng landed ia
England from the ST amer France on January L,
caueht q G disease, as | know, from tie germs in
the steamer: infected cattle having been brought
from England on the previous voyage and the ship
not having been properly disnected. Another
vessel, winch will not name, brought over IN the
early part of this season lot OF sheep, the manure
from which WAS not removed, but spread IN the
stalls in which cattle were placed immediately
afterward for export 10 England. As result over
$50 cu. of $50 cattle were afflicted with the disease
when they reached the other side. Sheep Will
carry the germs of the disease IN their wool after
coming in contact with the infected cattle, and
clothing. The recommendation OF the veterinary
surgeon in his report that ropes or other articles
that could possibly be infected be allowed IN the
steamers is a good One The disease Is essentially
an English one, and seems to be carried by the
atmo, phere. Ii is as epidemic as the lung disease
i'm Australia and the Cape of Good Hope, where
when the disease first appeared. from 80 10 20 per
cent Of the cattle died with it. The epidemic was
started in Australia by diseased animal from
Holland being landed at Melbourne. The COW was
driven some sixty miles INTO the country, ana AIR
along the road the cattle became injected, the
disease being transmitted through tne dILihkihhg
troughs. The Australian farmers now inoculate inc
cattle so that they take the disease IN milder
form. the mucous being inserted in a split in ths
fail some of the iGocuated animals die. and tho
tails drop of from the Others but those that reeoyer
are proof against the epidemic. Ten years ago this
disease made cattle very hlgh-priced IN Ausuaas
but now tat bullOcks can be bought in tho rangeS
for from three TO four pounds sterling each. Quar-
ntIne measures and effective legislation do greas
deal to keep the cattle healthy. The Australian
are naturally better cattle than the Texans, az
they came originally from England. The cattle of
Brazil and the Argentine Rep.bc are not liable ~
be diseased but / believe there are no healthier
cattle in the world than those of our WESTERN
States and Territories"
NJ II. Gilett said to the reporter that he did not
think any American exporter OF cattle could say
that he had made money in the business this year.
He never saw or heard of q case OF =" foot aud
month disease among cattle in America, but he!
lieyed they were infected with II on the steamerss
Sheep he said. were sometimes affected with q
similar disease in this country. The present small
exnortatIon of cattle, he thought was due TO lowe
nrices abroad and not to the seizure of disease6
cattle made during the early part of the seasons
Joseph Eastman expressed IN substance the sama