710 



Daiby Cattle in Denmark. 



[Nov., 



to the n amber of points gained from judging by appearance — 

 size, build and other external characters. 



Particular interest attaches to the rules of judging bulls in 

 the first three classes. 



The bulls are judged by appearance, and placed in order 

 according to the points obtained, the finest bull being placed 

 at the head of the line in each class, then the next best and so 

 on. The judges can give up to 24 points, and no bull can be 

 awarded a prize if it gains less than 10 points. 



It is a condition ivithout which no hull can compete for a prize 

 at the Shoicthat the milk ijleldsoj its dam, dam's dam, and sire's 

 dam have been reliably recorded, and the records must be given 

 up to the 30th September previous to the show if th: cnimals 

 were then alive. It is a further condition that the dam on an 

 average of all the recorded years sJiall hare yielded 340 lb. of 

 hatter, and milk ivith not less than 8.60 per cent, of fat; or 

 385 lb. of butter, and tnilk with not less than 3.40 per cent, of 

 fat. If the average per cent, of fat in the milk of the dam is 

 below 3.60 but not below 3.50 the bull shall be ehgible if the 

 average percentage of fat in the milk of the dam, dam's dam, 

 and sire's dam is 3.60, and if these dams fulfil the requirement 

 as to yield of butter specified for the bull's dam. This average 

 is calculated by first calculating the average of the yields of each 

 cow for all the recorded years and then taking the mean of these 

 three figures. For cows which have calved the first time before 

 the 1st January, 55 lb. of butter are added to their yields of 

 butter for ea^h of the two first recorded years. For cows which 

 ha-^e calved the first time between the 1st January and the 

 1st May, 55 lb. of butter are added to their yield of butter for 

 the second recorded year only. 



Besides the prize forjudging by appearance already mentioned, 

 the bull can be awarded a special recognition for descent. The 

 judges can give up to 24 points for the external appearance of 

 ancestors and their ability to improve the race, as evidenced by 

 information in herdbooks, show catalogues, personal knowledge, 

 etc., and 24 points for the recorded yields of ancestors. This 

 prize for descent does not influence the placing of the bull in 

 the line. On a card suspended from the neck of the bull informa- 

 tion is given of the points gained by the bull both for judging 

 by external characters and for descent. 



Conclusion. — It has been the writer's aim to show how the 

 work of the milk recording societies has gradually exercised a 

 greater and greater influence on the system of cattle breeding in 



