60 REPORT OF THE SCOTTISH COMMISSION 



of an occasional weighing, makes it easy to deal out with a 

 wonderful degree of accuracy the rations of farm stock. But unless 

 the head of the establishment displays some interest in the matter, 

 and spends time and thought in systematising and initiating the 

 work, the attendant can hardly be expected to undertake it with 

 good grace ; nor can he be accused of being too apathetic to 

 execute it skilfully. In Denmark, the blackboards at the cows' 

 heads tell at once not only the quantity and the quality of the milk, 

 but also the class the cow occupies, and consequently the quantity 

 of food she is entitled to receive. Hence feeding according to milk 

 production becomes a simple matter. 



The average number of cows kept on the larger farms appears 

 to be one cow to less than three acres, but on the smaller farms 

 the stocking is very much heavier. On the smaller holdings the 

 production of milk pays, and it is a means of providing much 

 labour on a few acres ; consequently the small holder strives to 

 keep as many cows as possible by purchasing greater quantities of 

 artificial feeding stuffs. Besides the cows and the heifers there 

 are a few calves ; but only a very well-bred bull calf is kept, and 

 only those calves out of cows of a very good milking strain, the 

 remainder being fattened when young and sent to the butcher. 

 Cattle carefully bred are eagerly sought after, and command fancy 

 prices. 



The attention given to the cows, and, indeed, to all animals, is 

 very marked. The cows are very gently handled and kindly treated 

 everywhere, and on many farms they are groomed several times 

 weekly. This not only keeps them clean, but tends to improve 

 their circulation, and this, it is said, gives an increase of the fat in 

 the milk. Every care is taken to keep the cows comfortable. The 

 byres on well-managed farms are kept at a temperature of about 

 sixty degrees, so that there may be no undue waste of food in 

 keeping up the temperature of the animal's body ; and on some 

 occasions the cows were seen grazing during the cold stormy days 

 in the end of June protected by a cover or rug made of sacking. 

 Indeed, the Danes grudge no effort that is likely to keep the milk 

 machine working at its highest capacity. 



The Danish Red Cow 



To a reflecting farmer this rearing up of a dairy breed with 

 fixed records and tangible results in the way of profits is one of 

 the wonders of the agricultural world. Previous to 1870 a breed 

 of rather scrubby red cattle, common also to Norway and Sweden 

 and Northern Germany, existed in Zeeland and the Islands. These, 

 by careful selection and breeding, have been changed to a breed of 

 fixed type, with milking records almost equal to the Ayrshire both 

 in quantity and quality. In similar manner the large-framed black 

 and white cattle of Jutland have been bred into dairy cattle. 

 These latter are of great interest to Scotch breeders, as exhibiting 

 how beefing cattle can be improved as a dairy breed, while weight 

 and substance are maintained. These black and white Jutland 



