LECTURE XLII. 



FRENCH CANADIAN CATTLE. 



Origin, History, and Development of the Same. 



This breed is descended from stock brought to Quebec 

 by the early French settlers, who came, for the most part, 

 from the coast provinces of. Brittiany and Normandy. This 

 was more than 250 years ago. The Jersey and Guernsey 

 breeds, as has already been noted, sprang from the Nor- 

 maridy and Brittiany stock; and the French Canadian rep- 

 resents the same blood, bred under different environments. 

 Their milk, like that of the Jersey, is noted rather for quality 

 than quantity. 



Of the steps taken in the development of the breed, we 

 know little, but the cattle were in the hands of a hardy 

 class of people, who understood intensive farming, and there 

 is good reason to believe that selection was practiced in 

 breeding, though probably in a rather crude and divided 

 manner; but milking qualities, capacity to consume large 

 amounts of rough fodder (for the breeders do not consider 

 it advisable to feed a highly concentrated ration), and great 

 hardiness, have been the really essential points which have 

 characterized the breed from the earliest times. 



Since the establishment of the Herd Book for French 

 Canadian cattle, in 1886, marked impetus has been given the 

 popularity of the breed, and the high standing made by the 

 French Canadian cows at Buffalo has increased their popu- 

 larity in the United States, where a herd book has been 

 established. 



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