every farm in the
United States keeps domestic animals, either for their labor or their
products, and nearly every household in both city and country keeps
one or more animals for companionship. The domestication of animals
has been a prime factor in the civilization of the human race by
furnishing man with motive force by which he has been able to increase
his productive power; by giving him a larger, better and more regular
food supply; and by furnishing the materials for clothing, making it
possible for him to inhabit temperate and even arctic climates.
Animals have not been less important in advancing the spiritual
welfare of the human race, by inculcating habits of regularity and
kindliness, which the care of domestic animals imposes.

INCREASE IN ANIMAL PRODUCTION

During the last half century animals have not increased in numbers as
rapidly as have the inhabitants, but the value of animals has increased
much more rapidly. While a part of this increase in value is due
perhaps to a greater cost of production, a couple of illustrations will
suffice to show that part of this increase in value has been due to
increase in the individual merit of the animals. In 1850 sheep in this
country produced 2.4 pounds of wool per fleece; in 1910 they produced
6.9 pounds per fleece. Thus, while in 50 years sheep have not quite
doubled in numbers, the production of wool has increased more than five
times. This is a striking example of the value of improvement in
breeding, because the improvement in wool production is due to the
influence of heredity in far greater degree than to the effect of
improved feeding. Wool, like the hair on one's head, is not greatly
influenced by the food supply, assuming it to be reasonably ample. Beef
cattle offer another illustration of the way in which animal products
have been increased without increasing the number of animals. Formerly
beef cattle were matured in their fourth and fifth years, or even their
sixth year. They are now placed upon the market in their second and
third years. If animals can be matured in their third instead of their
fifth year, it is obvious that a much smaller number of animals must be
kept upon the farm in order to provide an equal annual supply for
slaughter.

The increase in the size of our horses and the increased production of
butter fat per cow which have occurred in the past half century are
hardly less important factors in increasing the va