GERMANY. 465 



the Messkircb district were small, of a fine structure, red in color, 

 sbort but pointed bead, and strong, sbort borns. Tbey were very pro- 

 ductive in nnlk, and frugal regarding tbeir fodder.' Toward tbe year 

 1830, however, tbe stock-breeders began to import bulls from the Swiss 

 cantons of Zurich and Schwytz, and soon a great change was observed. 

 This was first done in Messkircb, but tbe example was immediately fol- 

 lowed by all stock-breeders in the whole district, so that twenty-five 

 years afterward the Swabian Alp cattle had very nearly disappeareli.' 

 The variety obtained by this interbreeding is distinguished by its great 

 fleshiness, abundance in milk on the one hand, and fetrengtb and en- 

 durance for labor ou the other. The importation of cows from Swit- 

 .zerland did not have good results ; they did not become used to the 

 climate. The number of cows in the Messkircb •district was 5,000 in 

 1880, and 70 bulls. These bulls are tbe property of the community, 

 vbich pays for feeding and attendance. Even the stables where these 

 animals are kejjt belong to the community. The Government prescribes 

 that one bull must be kept for every eighty cows. The inspection of 

 the bulls in 1882 in tbe- Messkircb district gave tbe following result : 

 Among seventy-six bulls there were — 



First-class (very -good) 35 



Second-class ((rood) - - 30 



Third-cluBS (proper for breeding, but of ugly sliape) 10 



Fourth-class (unfit for breeding, with defective conatitutiau) 1 



As a rule cows are covered for the first time at the age of one and a 

 half years, and calve generally at two and a quarter years. Cows which 

 calve before they have reached their full growth never become very 

 strong nor productive in milk. Tbe inclosed photographs, for which I 

 am indebted to the courtesy of his excellency the state minister of the 

 Grand Duchy of Baden, are all. of tbe Messkircb breed and show to 

 good advantage their build &c. ; they were purposely obtained for this 

 report, and are good average specimens of these cattle. 



PECULIARITIES OF THE MESSKIKCH CATTLE. 



The Messkircb cattle are nearly all checkered ; tbe different kinds 

 are: 



(1) Yellow checkered, light yellow or dark yellow on the back witb 

 irregular, clearly defined white spots. 



. (2) lied checkered, hair on tbe back red, mostly red or yellowisl^ 

 sometimes dark red witb dim white spots. 



(3) White checkered, white back, flanks red hair, headand feet white. 



Besides these there are animals which are either all red or all yellow, 

 the head is white, some have little yellow or red spots around tbe eyes. 

 Statistical comparisons made in 187,3 show that the yellow and red 

 checkered color is most prevalent in the Messkircb district. 



The nostrils, the same as the membranes of the mouth-cavity, are 

 without color; the horns and hoofs are yellow, resembling wax. The 

 tuft of hair over the ears is of tbe same color as tbe hair on the. back. 

 The end of the tail is mostly white. Black or brown spots on tbe nos- 

 trils are marks of the descent from the original Swabian Alp cattle. 



lied or yellow checkered animals with white head, yellow horns and 

 hoofs, colorless nostrils, and white end of tail are most frequent in the 

 Messkircb district, 



n. Ex. 51 30 



