THE * UNITED . KINGDOM. 7 9 



. INTKODUCTOKY BRITISH CATTLE AND CATTLE IM- 



POKTS. 



The annexed particulars, referring to the only pure races of cattle 

 known in the United Kingdom which are essentially British, will be 

 found in almost every case very complete and answer every question 

 put in the circular. The exceptions are the Shetland, the Galloway, and 

 the Sussex, about which it is most difficult to obtain technical infor- 

 mation. Some twenty Sussex breeders have been addressed, but their 

 answers are.not entirely satisfactory, but the information given will be 

 found reliable in every way. The Shetland is an almost entirely unknown 

 race, and the Galloway, to which I desired to give a f uljer place, I hope 

 to supplement; the editor of the Herd-Book, who is collecting informa- 

 tion, promising to send it to me shortly. In all, the fifteen British breeds 

 are treated, and the information given is based upon that furnished 

 by nearly a hundred of the leading breeders in the country, and which 

 has been arranged by the writer, who has added much which an ex- 

 tended experience has enabled him to rely upon. It will be noticed that 

 almost every breeder speaks of his own race as the best ; this is natural 

 enthusiasm, and I have in some cases been compelled to slightly tone 

 the rather exaggerated praise bestowed upon one breed in opposition 

 to another. Particulars are added with reference to breeding, feeding, 

 soiling, shipment, and scientific dairy instruments, and centrifugal 

 cream separators,* which will be found very complete, the two last 

 named subjects being especially familiar to the writer, who has investi- 

 gated them in each European dairy country. Drawings or wood cuts 

 are annexed as well of these machines and instruments as of the chief 

 races of cattle. 



Foreign cattle are little kept in England, and almost all the small 

 herds which had been formed have been dispersed or have degenerated 

 on account of the Government action entirely preventing importation. 

 Dutch cows were at one time very largely used for milk production 

 while French, Spanish, and German beasts were imported in immense 

 numbers for beef. Now the only countries sending live animals in any 

 numbers are Denmark and Sweden and Norway; the first named doing 

 an immense trade last year, leading the United States during the first 

 five months, since when she has started a large company and is build- 

 ing a new fleet of ships for further extending the trade. The Danish 

 cattle come from Aalborg, in Jutland (which port I visited last year), to 

 Newcastle and Hull, and are chiefly Jydsk or Jutland, a medium-sized 

 race of moderate quality. A few Swiss cattle are kept in England, the 

 writer having a few years ago formed the largest herd; the beasts are 

 large, silver-grey in color, slightly too heavy in bone and skin, but very 

 large milkers, good feeders for the butcher, and extremely hardy, living 

 where the majority of other beasts would starve. These beasts are ex 

 trcmely profitable and the handsomest of any known race in color. 

 French cattle are not bred in England, but the Shorthorn 1? largely 

 bred in France for crossing upon the Charolaise, Cotentin, and Nivernais 

 beast, which it much improves, the Government keeping up one pure 

 Shorthorn breeding establishment for the purpose. In my numerous 

 visits among the French breeders I have found their opinion of the 

 Shorthorn to be that it is better than any race they have, and consid- 

 ered to be the best in the world for-crossing. This, however, is not bred 

 to such perfection as in England. 



* These special papers will be found in the supplement. 



