452 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. 



however, no malignant symptoms prevails quite generally, the present momeut would 

 be unfavorable for an inspection. 



I have had the honor to state herewith that which is in general uipst essential con- 

 cerning cattle-breeding in our distinct, and I leave it to the consideration of your 

 honor to favor us perhaps at some other time with a visit. 

 With highest regards, 



Oeconomierath BURKARDT, 



JFYeufeftl of the Agricultural Union. 



CATTLE-BREEDING AT KIRCHBERG. 



At Kirchberg, in the Black Forest section, great attention is paid to 

 cattle-breeding, and several distinctive points of interest in connect ion 

 \rith the subject will be found in the subjoined letter from Oecono- 

 mierath Schoffer, the president of the Koyal Farming School at that 

 point, who writes me, under date of October 22, as follows : 



KlRCHBKRO, NEAR SULZ, Octoi*T S3, 1883. 



In answer to your favor of the 19th of October I have to say that the breed of c 

 stalled hero is identical with that kept at the Royal Academy at Hohenheim, and 

 that in regard to the rearing of young cattle only this difference exis <. \-..-. that in 

 Kirchberg a thorough system of grazing is carried out. Near the farm buildings 

 there are two inclosures of about 3 hectares each, provided with facilities tor water- 

 ing the animals, where the young cattle, from spriug (about May 10) until the cud 

 of October, graze without the supervision of herdsmen. So long, during spring and 

 autumn, as the nights are cool and flies not troublesome the animals go out at dawn 

 to graze, returning in the evening to their stalls, where they are daily wa^ied. As 

 soon, however, as the summer days grow warm and flies begin to be annoying, the 

 animals are allowed to graze from 4 o'clock in the afternoon on through the whole 

 night up to 6 o'clock in the morning, remaining during the daytime in the cool stalls. 

 While tnere they are provided with as much corn-straw as they like and this, during 

 wet weather, they seom to prefer ; no other fodder is given them in* the stalls. The 

 two graziug-grounds are ordinarily used alternately fox four weeks at a time, so 

 the herbage gains strength before the cattle graze upon it. As soon as one iuolosure 

 has remained for some time idle the dung is carefully broken np and the weeds are 

 mown off. Besides the dung of the grazing animals the grounds are only manured 

 every few years with wood ashes. From the ago of about sis months np to the age of 

 pregnancy, which is here about two and a half years, only the female cattle grate 

 duriug summer, whilst the young males are cared for the same as at Hohenheim. A 

 very stxopg bodily development and excellent health are found by an experience of 

 thirty years to be the results of the above-described system of rearing by grazing. 



This is the only feature distinguishing cattle-breeding here from that at Hohen- 

 heim, and I think that it would scarcely be worth while to come here personally, es- 

 pecially as at present the grazing is over with for this year. 

 With highest regards, 



Oeconomierath SCHOFFER, 



CATTLE-BREEDING AT BAVEXSBURG. 



From Ravensbnrg, situated in the Swabian uplands near Lake Con- 

 stance, in the southeasterly part of the Kingdom, it is reported in the 

 last chamber of commerce report, as follows : 



The new law about bulls will, without doubt, contribute very much to the improve- 

 ment of cattle-breeding, although the poorness of the soil in Oberschwaben runncs 

 some difficulty and renders the keeping of township bulls almost impossible. It is 

 to be hoped that through a better choice of bulls the brown cattle will be reserved to 

 the Oberland, and will be able to resist successfully the encroachments of the parti- 

 colored race as tar as dairy nses are concerned. Where breeding prevails, the quicker 

 growing parti-colored cattle are in their right place, and should be bred pore, 

 whilst the aimless system of crossings between brown and red cattle, now prevailing 

 in many places, should be opposed by every possible means. A further incentive to 



a better breeding and rearing of cows will be the higher price for the milk, obtained 

 in many households and dairies in Oberschwaboii through the introduction of the 

 cold-water method, which we are g 1 - 

 Only lately the dairy at Sigmarshol 

 *Molkerei Genossensehaft ** (dairy 

 showing in its last year's business. 



cold-water method, which we are glad to state is coming more and more into Toene. 

 Only lately the dairy at Sicuiarshofim was remodeled according to this system. Tho 

 " Molkerei Genossenschaft (dairy aJMlialtMi) at Aiohstetton alao makes a very good 



