14
Bulls and
Cows and oxen more One year
alved heifers than one year old olds
2 £49
Calves
1871
1880
i830 . 5 oeg
1900 . 6741
1910 . . 17843
1920 . . 16936
928 , . 21083
963 1987 2909
140 2450 3238
'188 2911 4 396
729 2520 3312
982 3063 4 895
Total
19 111%
21 006*
20 $47
23569
26338
23497
30 023
The Icelandic breed of cattle is very heterogeneous, both as regards
size, colour, and yield. From the colonization down to the present day
little has been done to improve this stock by means of rational
breeding. The milking capacity of the Icelandic breed is better than its
meat-producing capacity. The average annual milk-production per cow
is estimated at 2400 kilogrammes, while a few may vield as much as
5000 kg per year. So far as examined the fatty contents of the milk
have in most cases amounted to from 31/2 to 4 per cent.
Compared with the number of population, horses are much more
numerous in Iceland than in any other European country, or about
one to every two persons. In the Baltic countries (Lithuania, Latvia,
and Esthonia) and in Russia, which come next after Iceland in this re-
spect, the number of horses does not amount to more than one to
every 4—5 persons. One of the reasons why horses are so numerous
in Iceland is to be found in the fact that they have until quite lately
been the almost only means of communication between ‘the different
parts of the country, and are still largely employed both as saddle
horses, and beasts of burden and draught. In some districts horses
are also reared for export.
The Icelandic horse is small-sized, from 130—144 cm. in height,
and rather shaggy; they do not require much fodder, are wonder-
fully persevering and sure-footed, and very keen-sighted.
The number of horses has been steadily increasing during the past
fifty vears:
*) Calves are not included in these figures.