Wilson, Biology of cattle. qa c 



cial cattle are produced by crossing polled cows with a shorthorn 

 bull and the same good results are obtained by a polled bull and 

 shorthorn cows. Such off spring do not succed as separate breeds. 

 Hence the case for maintaining pure breeds for keeping up 

 the Standard of our cattle. Are there exceptions? And the great 

 value of having bulls from such high class herds to keep up good 

 and to improve inferior cattle. It seems that this is the rule where 

 husbandry has reached a good Standard. But peculiar or inferior 

 districts have peculiar breeds which answer the Situation and give 

 the best results them-selves with that care which the breed 

 requires. As the Highland or native cattle of Scotland or Wales etc. 

 The lines under which improvements of present days use may be 

 made may receive a word. 



At one time no immediate hurry or care was practised in 

 producing mature cattle. The result was that within the lines 

 of absence from exposure outside or starvation inside a hardy 

 class of cattle were produced-maturing say about four years of 

 age and seldom troubled with disease. Breeding also was taken 

 with deliberation. 



By and by a change has in many places been brought about and 

 a tendency opened up to rush for ward stock to market. From 

 four to three down to two years of age. Also early breeding from 

 heiffers become more or less resorted to as well. 



This means extreme care and attention. Which we believe 

 has been overdone. And forms a source of production of disease. 

 As tuberculosus, which has given so much trouble, as well as others. 

 At anyrate it is not supposed that the trouble mentioned does 

 exist in native herds. Hence we conclude that this has been over- 

 done, and that hardier stock would result from giving more time 

 to mature and doing less in what is known as the forcing System. 

 That is moderation in food and in caretaking or attention. Deli- 

 berations as regards those best adapted for the particular places 

 where they are kept. And the crops and other foods which are 

 best adapted for each peculiar climate as well. We note that in 

 the semi-domestic state we have a case of cutting down of size. 

 So we believe in up to date work that a medium should be Struck 

 in this. Depending upon a variety of things. But the one thing 

 is maintain Constitution. That is the great thing to succeed and 

 toward off disease. When disease attacks cattle prompt atten- 

 tion is the best that man can do. 



We may now say that we have given sufficient to give an up 

 to date idea of the position of cattle towards man. That is to 

 say in the very highest centres of farming there is a tendency to 

 rush every thing forward by means of certain discoveries etc. Which 

 enable them to mature quickly. As regards these places as a 

 breeding centre from which improvements are expected to extend. 

 One cow is expected to take up her milk by feeding one breeding 



VIII. Internationaler Zoologen- Kongreß. 60 



