45 - 



These regulations encourage the keeping of first class 

 male and female animals and are a means of preserving 

 the bulls capable of maintaining the stock. 



The cost of providing the money prizes is borne in 

 certain cases entirely by the Government, in others the 

 Government bears up to 75 p. c. of the expenses. 



The Government and provincial authorities share the 

 expenses entailed by the execution of the provincial regu- 

 lations for the improvement of the bovine race. 



The total annual expenses amount to about 200,000 francs 

 for the State and i5o,ooo francs for the provinces. 



Since 1896, several breeding syndicates and herdbook 

 societies have been formed in Belgium having as their 

 principal object the improvement of breeds by selection. 



TYPICAL BULL OF BELGIAN BREED (CENTRAL DISTRICT) 



Some of these societies confine their operations to the 

 cattle of one district whilst others improve the cattle of 

 one or two parishes only. 



Some provincial regulations for the improvement of the 

 bovine race (East Flanders and Luxembourg) are admi- 

 nistered in conjunction with the operations of the cattle 

 breeding syndicates. 



