304 



CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. 



cattle, reared and grazed on Alpine grass, with plenty of fresh running 

 water and pure air, are the healthiest and hardiest known to the herd- 

 book. 



The Swiss breeder pays great attention to "pure bloods," and is very 

 careful that no " cross" occurs, which accounts for so many "pure- 

 bloods " one sees in the Swiss herd-book. As a rule only the finest 

 formed and best marked animals. are kept for breeding purposes, and 

 the result is that the quality of Swiss cattle is yearly improving. To 

 encourage farmers and breeders in this respect the various cantonal 

 and district governments in Switzerland offer premiums in stipulated 

 sums to be awarded at the county and district fairs, which are held in 

 the spring and fall of each year. This system of governmental recog- 

 nition and assistance is a great stimulant to breeders of pure bloods, 

 and beyond cavil a proved success. In the award of premiums the 

 greatest care is taken by the judges in considering all points, and the 

 least defect as to color, form, size, &c., often proves disastrous to the 

 exhibitor, and the consequence is that the farmers and breeders are 

 always on the qui vive that their pure-bloods reproduce themselves 

 in their offspring. I am informed by reliable cattlemen that this gov- 

 ernmental assistance has had a marked effect in the cattle improvement 

 of Switzerland, and that it is confidently expected that within the next 

 half century the Swiss breeds would not only be a pure line of blooded 

 stock, rich in the product of milk and the products thereof, but excel- 

 lent in meat, and a perfect show animal, beautiful in form and color. 

 About three years ago the federal authorities ordered experts to make 

 an examination into all pedigreed cattle in Switzerland, giving names, 

 ages, degrees, &c.; which was done, and the report condensed into a 

 herd-book, where all the pedigrees of pure-blooded cattle in this country 

 may be found. 



Switzerland contains but two distinct original breeds, as follows : (1) 

 The Spotted or Fleckvieh race; (2) the Brown Schwytzer orBraunvie 

 race. There are, however, several offshoots from the two principal 

 breeds, which will be considered further on in this report. 



THE SPOTTED BREED. 



The Swiss Spotted breed belong to the heaviest of the European 

 races. In evidence of this fact a case is cited where a Simmenthal cow 

 of this breed, which was premiumed at a cattle show held at Lucerne in 

 1881, weighed 1,134 kilograms. 



Out of other cattle premiumed at the same fair the following measure- 

 ments, showing proportions, &c., are given in centimeters (1 ioch.= 

 2.5400 centimeters), to give some idea of the*size of these animals : 



The " Freiburg" cattle represent the heaviest and coarsest animal of 

 this breed; is usually white, with large black spots; big l>oued; rather 

 heavy head; long body; large loose barrel, and traditionally known 



