I9Q4-] 



Live Stock in Belgium. 



25 



These regulations encourage the keeping of first-class male 

 and female animals, and are a means of preserving the bulls 

 capable of maintaining the stock. The cost of providing the 

 money prizes is borne in certain cases entirely by the Govern- 

 ment ; in others the Government bears up to 75 per cent, of the 

 expenses. The total annual cost amounts to about ,£8,000 

 for the State and ^"6,000 for the provinces. Since 1896 several 

 breeding syndicates and herd-book societies have been formed 

 in Belgium, having as their principal object the improvement 

 of breeds by selection. 



All these efforts are evidence of the strong desire to improve 

 the native cattle, but it will take some time before the beneficial 

 effects of these attempts will be felt. It is nevertheless un- 

 deniable that in certain parts of the country great progress has 

 been obtained by the operations of these provincial regulations 

 and breeding syndicates. 



The Government encourages the syndicates and the federa- 

 tions of syndicates by grants for first establishment, and by 

 grants for the keeping of stud-books of the breeding stock. A 

 few syndicates have been formed with the object of buying 

 breeding bulls. 



The National Society for the Improvement of Cattle in 

 Belgium was instituted in 1899. This Society held several 

 shows in April 1900, 1902, and 1904, which were very suc- 

 cessful, and contributed in a large measure to spread amongst 

 the rural populations the ideas of uniform and definite races. 

 This Society also published an album showing the types of 

 the different Belgian races. The Government encourages this 

 association by granting important subsidies in aid of the 

 biennial shows. 



In 1899 the Government instituted a Commission for the 

 improvement of the breeds of pigs in Belgium. This Com- 

 mission set to work immediately, and tried to show the 

 advantages of increasing the Yorkshire breed, yielding bacon 

 of excellent quality. They held several shows, open to all 

 Belgian breeders, which have greatly contributed to the 

 promotion of pig breeding in Belgium. 



