IXTEODTJCTORY. 



The great loss of cattle from the first attack of cattle-plague 

 from 1864 to 1866 led gradually to a great increase of rearing, and, 

 although this desirable feature was seriously checked from time 

 to time by the prevalence of contagious diseases, especially pleura 

 and foot-and-mouth disease, yet of late years there has been a 

 gradual and steady increase in numbers, until at the present time 

 (1886) our stock of cattle has nearly reached the numbers previous 

 to 1864 ; how large the increase has been since 1866 will be seen 

 by the following figures, extracted from the statistics published 

 by the Agricultural Department of the Privy Council : 



A few years since, the high rates for store cattle and the 

 remunerative sales of dairy produce encouraged those whose 

 circumstances were favourable to go in more for breeding and 

 rearing. Production was greatly stimulated, and, as a conse- 

 quence, supply has overtaken demand, and during the last year 

 or two, and especially in 1885, reaction occurred. Store cattle 

 fell considerably, though commanding prices which a few years 

 ago would have been considered fairly remunerative. It may be 

 that for a time the business of rearing may not prove so remune- 

 rative as buying store animals that others have bred. Yet, 

 wherever the conditions are favourable, we strongly advise 

 breeders and rearers to stick to their system, believing that, 

 with increasing population and more spending capacity by the 

 wage-earning class, there will be room for profitable manage- 

 ment. And it is quite certain that the use of good bulls on 

 dairy stock will so improve the progeny that, whether reared at 

 home or sold at birth, the outlay in a good male animal will be 

 amply repaid. Everyone who has had any experience in rearing 

 must know that a mongrel-bred calf is much dearer at IZ. than 

 a good one at 21. When they are both a year old, the one 

 will be a very different animal from the other. 



We must impress upon farmers generally, and young ones in 

 particular, the importance to be attached to colour in choosing 



