- 46 



All these efforts are evidence of the strong desire to 

 improve the native cattle, but it will take some time 

 before the beneficial effects of these attempts will be felt. 

 It is nevertheless undeniable that in certain parts oi' the 

 country great progress has been obtained by the operations 

 of these provincial regulations and breeding syndicates. 



The Government encourages the syndicates and the fede- 

 rations of syndicates by grants for first establishment, and 

 by grants for the keeping of studbooks of the breeding 

 stock. 



A few syndicates have been formed with the object of 

 buying breeding bulls. 



The National Society for the improvement of cattle in 

 Belgium was instituted in 1899. 



This society held several shows in April 1900, 1902 and 

 1904, which were very successful and contributed in a 

 large measure to spread amongst the rural populations the 

 ideas of uniform and definite races. 



This Society also published an album showdng the types 

 of the different Belgian races. 



The Government encourages this association by gran- 

 ting important subsidies, in aid of the biennial shows. 



Independently of these encouragements w 7 e must take 

 into consideration the shows open to cafctle breeders at the 

 agricultural exhibitions referred to above in connection 

 with the encouragements given to horse breeding. 



cj Pig breeding 



In 1899, the Government instituted a commission for the 

 improvement of the breeds of pigs in Belgium. 



This commission set to work immediately and tried to 

 show the advantages of increasing the Yorkshire breed as 

 these animals yield bacon of excellent quality. 



The society held several breeding shows in 1901, 1902, 

 1908 and 1904. 



These shows were most successful. 



The society also organized shows in Brussels in 1900, 

 1902 and 1904 at Hasselt in 1900 and at Namur and Bruges 

 in 1908, open to all Belgian breeders : they have greatly 

 contributed to the promotion of pig breeding in Belgium. 



