The sale of fat cattle in carload lots gave nearly equal results for the breeds represented, excepting for the Aberdeen-Angus, whose average was exceptionally high. The high average price brought by this breed was due principally to the exceptionally high prices. brought by four prize-winning loads, which included the sweepstakes load at $17 per hundredweight, the champion yearlings at $11.60 per hundredweight, and two other loads which brought $10.30 and $10.25 per hundredweight, respectively. The results of the sale by breeds are given in the following table: Average weights and prices per hundredweight and range of prices of various breeds of steers exhibited and sold at the International Live Stock Exposition at Chicago, 1906. The carloads of heifers and cows exhibited in the fat classes sold at very much lower prices than the steers. The average price brought by the heifers was $5.11 per hundredweight, or $3 less than the average price paid for the steers. The average price paid for the two loads of cows was only $4.65 per hundredweight. The results of the sale of heifers and cows, by carloads of 15 head, were as follows: REGISTERED LIVE STOCK IN THE UNITED STATES. It has been the custom for the past three years to publish in the Annual Report of the Bureau of Animal Industry the estimates of secretaries of American pedigree record associations of the number of registered animals living in the United States on December 31 of each year, but this information can not now be presented for the year 1906 because no estimates have been made for that year, it having been decided to change the date of making estimates to June 30. It is expected that the figures for June 30, 1907, will be given in the Bureau report for that year. CERTIFIED PEDIGREE RECORD ASSOCIATIONS. Paragraph 473 of the tariff act of July 24, 1897 (amended March 3, 1903), provides that Any animal imported by a citizen of the United States specially for breeding purposes shall be admitted free, whether intended to be so used by the importer himself or for sale for such purpose: Provided, That no such animal shall be admitted free unless purebred, of a recognized breed, and duly registered in the books of record established for that breed: And provided further, That certificate of such record and of the pedigree of such animal shall be produced and submitted to the customs officer, duly authenticated by the proper custodian of such book of record, together with the affidavit of the owner, agent, or importer that such animal is the identical animal described in said certificate of record of pedigree: And provided further, That the Secretary of Agriculture shall determine and certify to the Secretary of the Treasury what are recognized breeds and purebred animals under the provisions of this paragraph. Accordingly, the Department of Agriculture has certified a large number of books of record of pedigrees and their publishing agencies and has prescribed regulations for them, which have been published in B. A. I. Order No. 136. A list of the certified records and associations will be found in that order on page 352 of this report. STATE LIVE-STOCK BREEDERS' ASSOCIATIONS. Name of organization. [Revised to July 1, 1907.] Alabama Live Stock Association.. Iowa Improved Stock Breeders' Association.. Interstate Breeders' Association State live-stock breeders' associations—Continued. Name of organization. Kansas Improved Stock Breeders' Association... Kansas Swine Breeders' Association.... Kentucky Beef Cattle Breeders' Association.. Kentucky Live Stock Breeders' Association. Kentucky Swine Breeders' Association.. Louisiana Stock Breeders' Association.. Minnesota Horse Breeders' Association... Minnesota Sheep Breeders' Association.. Minnesota Swine Breeders' Association Southern Live Stock Association Missouri State Sheep Breeders' Association. Montana Stock Growers' Association... Nebraska State Swine Breeders' Association..... New Mexico Wool Growers' Association.. Northeastern New Mexico Stock Growers' AssOciation. New York State Breeders' Association.. New York State Sheep Breeders' Association.. North Dakota Live Stock Association.. Ohio Horse Breeders' Association.. Oklahoma Improved Breeders' Association. Oregon Live Stock Breeders' Association. Western South Dakota Stock Growers' Association. Tennessee Live Stock Breeders' Association... Texas Sheep and Goat Breeders' Association. Mount Pleasant Wool Growers' Association.. Washington Live Stock Association West Virginia Live Stock Association.... West Virginia Sheep Breeders' Association. Wisconsin Live Stock Breeders' Association.. Wisconsin Sheep Breeders' Association.. Snake River Live Stock Association.. Wyoming Stock Growers' Association Wyoming Wool Growers' Association.. Secretary. H. A. Heath I. D. Graham M. W. Neale....... W. H. Dalrymple... Geo. W. Patterson.... C. W. Glotfelter J. M. Aldrich. H. R. Wells. T. A. Cummings. W. G. Unitt E. M. Searle, jr. H. F. Lee. Albert E. Brown. Samuel Taylor F. M. Stewart...... May Overton a. J. Wesley Walton.. F. M. Rothrock. C. E. Lewis. Pondcreek, Okla. East End, Pittsburg, Pa. Buffalo Gap, S. Dak. 42 Arcade, Nashville, Tenn. East 917 Augusta avenue, Charlestown, W. Va. 1614 Capitol avenue, Cheyenne, Wyo. CONTAGIOUS DISEASES OF ANIMALS IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. The reports of contagious diseases of animals in foreign countries, as shown on the following pages, have been compiled from official documents received from the different countries. The figures are generally given by months, and in most instances they refer to new cases occurring during each month. In some instances, however, the figures in the returns refer to the number of cases, outbreaks, etc., at monthly periods, so that no annual totals can be given. The outstanding feature in the situation for the year was the spread of foot-and-mouth disease in western continental Europe. The reports indicate that the disease began to spread in France about the middle of the year. Up to this time it had apparently been under control for some time. In 1905 there had been only 18 scattered outbreaks during the whole year, and for the first four months of 1906 there were but 3 outbreaks (in January). In May, however, there appears to have been a recrudescence of the disease, and the outbreaks rapidly increased in number month by month until, in November and December, there were upward of 2,000 in each month. In November the disease spread into the neighboring countries of Belgium and the Netherlands. After experiencing entire freedom from the disease for eighteen months-that is, since March, 1905-the Belgium reports showed 1,907 cases in November, 1906, and so rapid was the spread of the infection that no less than 5,878 cases were reported in December. The Netherlands was not seriously affected. Aside from foot-and-mouth disease, the status of the other livestock diseases in Belgium during 1906 was quite satisfactory, almost all the totals showing decreases when compared with 1905. There were no cases of sheep scab reported from March, 1905, until March, 1906, when 200 were reported, after which there was a further cessation lasting seven months, 41 cases being reported in November and 2 in December. The reports from France show that pleuro-pneumonia has been entirely eradicated, no outbreaks having been reported since September, 1905. There was not much change in the other animal diseases as compared with 1905 excepting the great increase in foot-and-mouth disease, previously mentioned, and a substantial decrease in glanders and farcy. Rabies continues to be very prevalent, there being a total of 2,045 cases reported during the year. The German reports show that no pleuro-pneumonia has existed in that country since June, 1906. As regards foot-and-mouth disease, a small number of farms continue right along to be infected, and the number was somewhat increased in the last two months of the year. Hog cholera and swine plague are the serious farm diseases in Germany, but the reports for the last six months of 1906, although they show an average of about 2,300 farms infected at each monthly period, are a considerable improvement on the year previous. The situation in Great Britain and Ireland is seen by the tables to be very satisfactory; in only one instance-swine fever in Great Britain-was there an increase in the totals when compared with 1905. The Italian reports, as usual, show a great prevalence of foot-andmouth disease, the aggregate for the year-84,257 cases-being about 8,000 in excess of the total for 1905. The details for each country in alphabetical order are as follows: AUSTRIA. Number of premises infected with contagious diseases of animals in Austria at monthly periods during 1906. Cases of contagious diseases of animals in Belgium during 1906. |