Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - III. Rural Husbandry. Introd. by H. Juhlin Dannfelt - 2. Live-Stock - In General, and the Rearing of Cattle and Pigs in Particular. By H. Funkqvist - Horses. By J. B. Hedelin
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94
iii. rural husbandry.
seat of the pig-breeding industry, and large quantities of pork are sent from that
province to Stockholm and Norrland.
It is evident that the relation of Swedish trade with other countries, as regards
the imports and exports of farm-yard products, etc., is very favourable to Sweden,
but the question arises whether this position has not been attained at the expense of
the individual farmer, for attempts have been made to show that the rearing of
live-stock in Sweden is ilot a profitable occupation, as regards cattle and sheep, at
least. It is difficult to decide whether this statement is in strict agreement with
the facts of the case, but it is clear to the experienced and capable farmer that
live-stock husbandry can be made a profitable employment, and on a large number
of estates it is carried on at a profit. Among the factors that diminish the returns
of this branch of industry are poor grazing, the cultivation of fodder stuffs on
exhausted land, the keeping of live-stock of poor quality, neglect of the stable
manure problem, the low prices obtained for milk and meat, the high value of land,
lack of business capital, high freight charges, high prices for concentrated foods,
infectious or contagious diseases, the want of interest in the work shown by
those in charge of the cattle, and last, but not least, bad management. The
individual farmer can improve the pastures, can make the land more
suitable for the cultivation of fodder stuffs, can turn the manure to good account,
can improve the quality of the cattle, can interest the farm-yard hands in
their work, can increase his own knowledge of cattle-rearing etc., but he cannot
lower the price of land, nor do much to affect the prices of milk, meat, and
concentrated foods, etc.
Horses.
At the end of the 16th century, Sweden possessed about 200 horses to
every thousand of the population, a number which in 1805 had fallen to
about 160, and in 1870 to as low as 103. But since that time the
decline has ceased, so that in 1900 there were still 103 horses to every
thousand of the population; indeed, a slight increase has been observable
in recent years: in 1905, there were 105, and in 1910, 106 horses to every
thousand inhabitants.
The total number of horses in Sweden at the end of the year 1911
amounted to 588 485. Relatively, the greatest number of horses are
found in Skåne and Uppland.
The number of horses in Sweden, as compared with other European and
some extra-European countries, is shown by the following table (about 1910):
Number of horses Number of
per thousand in- horses per
habitants sq. km
Sweden................106 1-3
Belgium................................43’9 92
Denmark..............................206 11’3
Germany................................78 7’4
England................................53’2 6’5
France................................75’6 5’4
Holland................................57’6 8’2
Italy..................................23 25
Norway................................75’4 0’5
Austria................................63 52
Hungary................128’5 7’0
Russia (European Russia incl. Finland) . 211’6 3’9
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