RHODESIA 227 



Nearly all, if not. all, disease is insect borne, and it is now 

 realised that to preserve the cattle from inroads of disease, dips 

 must be constructed and used frequently. Undoubtedly, the 

 crossbred, or pure, cattle will be more subject to local maladies 

 than are the native female parent stock. But in Argentina, 

 Queensland, and the Southern States of the Union this diffi- 

 culty has been largely overcome by careful dipping. Most of 

 the cattle-breeding districts of Southern Rhodesia are at an 

 elevation of from 3000 ft. to 4000 ft., which gives them an 

 advantage over similar lands in other countries situated in the 

 same latitude. 



Cattle cannot yet be run in large mobs. Usually, mobs of 

 200 to 300 are found to be as large as the herdsman can manage, 

 especially as the herding is done on foot. Horse sickness is 

 very prevalent in Rhodesia, and although a prophylactic serum 

 has been discovered for the inoculation of mules, and is success- 

 ful, the perfected serum for horses has yeb to be produced. 



The experienced cattle breeder from Argentina, Australia, 

 or the United States must preserve a very open mind if he is 

 to be successful in Rhodesia. All local methods of cattle 

 breeding are not necessarily wrong in principle, because they 

 appear patriarchal and antique, according to our notions, and 

 the new environment will modify many preconceived ideas. 

 The experience of other lands and ways of working is of in- 

 estimable value, and slowly many modifications and changes 

 of present methods can be introduced. Any too abrupt change 

 is not likely to work for good. The Kaffirs, who have 1o be 

 employed as cattle men, understand their own ways of working, 

 and their habits do not lend themselves to sudden changes. 

 The pioneer breeder of improved stock will probably confine 

 himself at first to such elementary changes in native methods 

 as the separation of heifers and young steers from the parent 

 stock, weaning them as late as possible ; the age marking of 

 each crop of calves by ear mark, and changing this annually ; 

 separation and final culling and fattening for sale of the abort- 

 ing cow or heifer ; the early castration of male calves ; dipping 

 for the destruction of parasites ; letting the cattle run at night 

 where possible, or in the event of this being impossible owing 

 to the shortage of cattle herds, or owing to the presence of too 



