480 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. 



DENMAKK. 



DANISH CATTLE, 



EE POET BY CONSUL RYDER, OF COPENHAGEN, 



I have herewith the honor to inclose, duly filled out, the form annexed 

 to the circular from the Department under date of 18th July last, with 

 reference to cattle-breeding, and at the same time have the honor to 

 present the following observations relating to this matter : 



Denmark possesses two breeds of cattle, namely, the Eed Danish and 

 the Black Spotted Jutland. The first named constitute the cattle herds 

 of the islands, as also of those of a few districts in the southern part of 

 Jutland, whilst the Black Spotted are to be found throughout all the 

 Jutland districts. Side by side with these two breeds are to be found, 

 in a few districts, more especially in Jutland, some of the Shorthorn 

 cattle. 



THE RED DANISH CATTLE. 



This is one of the most noted milking breeds in existence. This breed 

 has been formed by improving on the well known- Angeln breed from 

 Schleswig, which, with more abundant foddering and care, has in Den- 

 mark been brought to greater size and with larger development in 

 milking qualities. 



The Ked Danish breed, when full grown and in good milking condi- 

 tion, has a weight of from 900 to 1,050 pounds and as a rule their 

 first calving season takes place at the age of two and one-fourth to 

 two and one-half years. After the first, and in part after the second 

 calving periods, they do not give their full yield of milk, but neither do 

 they require such generous foddering. There are large numbers of 

 these cows which give an annual yield of 8,000 pounds of milk; and it 

 is not infrequent amongst the best cattle herds to find cows giving 10,000 

 pounds of milk in the course of a year. In the bountiful-fed herds it 

 is frequently a matter of difficulty to keep the cow dry some time before 

 calving. In order, however, to spare and strengthen the animal, every 

 method is employed to run her dry for the space of six to eight weeks. 



In the inclosed form of the cattle circular, it will be observed that 

 the average annual milk yield is put down at 6,500 pounds ; but this is 

 to be understood as being the average twelve months 7 yield during tbe 

 cow's entire life period; so that its yield whilst a young cow is also in- 

 cluded therein. 



The Eed Danish cattle are almost entirely used as dairy herds, and, 

 while in good milking condition the cow remains thin. Not only does 

 she convert all her food into milk, but appears also to perform the same 

 operation with the fat and muscles of her body; but so soon as she falls 

 off in her milking qualities and begins to run dry she fattens easily. 



BLACK SPOTTED JUTLAND BREED. 



These cattle are about the same size as the Danish red breed, although 

 of somewhat heavier build, and with bodies of slightly greater breadth 

 and depth. 



