BKEEDING SOCIETIES 87 



of corn crops began to be understood by the large landowners, 

 and more attention was paid to the cattle. Unfortunately, one 

 of the jGirst means to improve it was sought in crossing with 

 superior breeds from other countries, and Ayrshire, Swiss, 

 Tyrol, Angeln, Dutch, Shorthorn and other English breeds, 

 were introduced, and indiscriminate crossing was practised. 

 It was in Jutland that the farmers first began to realise the 

 evil result of this system, and to advocate improving the native 

 Jutland cattle by judicious selection and breeding within the 

 breed. At the first large Farmers' Meeting, in Eanders, 1845, 

 a resolution was carried to the effect that " as Jutland possesses 

 a breed of cattle not only admirably adapted to the country's 

 own use, but highly appreciated abroad both for fattening and 

 as dairy cattle, this breed should not be crossed with any other 

 breed, but improved by suitable means according to local 

 conditions." On the islands the crossing with foreign breeds 

 was superseded by an improvement effected by means of the 

 red dairy cattle from Angeln in Slesvig which was very closely 

 related to the native red or red and white cattle on the Danish 

 islands. 



About 1830 the Koyal Agricultural Society of Denmark 

 appointed commissioners in the different districts (Amter) to 

 report on " the present economical conditions in the Danish 

 provinces." In the valuable reports received the question of 

 improving the cattle of the country was dealt with-, and most 

 of the commissioners were of opinion that what was chiefly 

 required was to instruct the peasants in the knowledge of good 

 cattle breeding, the importance of using the best animals only 

 for breeding and the necessity of rearing the young stock in 

 a better manner. One report even went so far as to propose 

 compulsion ; the necessary number of bulls of good quality 

 should be provided in each district ; inferior bulls should be 

 castrated ; a punishment should be inflicted for letting bulls 

 stray, and so on. The majority recommended a system of 

 prizes for good bulls, while some favoured the old-time system 

 of each village having " a village bull," which should be of a 

 good milking strain. Others suggested that the State should 

 buy good bulls and station them in the districts where they 

 were most needed. 



