292 British Breeding Stock in Russia. [aug : , 



The results of crossing native breeds of live stock in Russia, 

 with British strains was referred to by H.M. Consul- General. 



cross with the Kalmuck cow, while experiments in crossing 

 with a Simmenthal bull have showed an increase in average 

 weight of 6 1 to 62 per cent. The great struggle in South 

 Russia for crossing purposes is now between the Shorthorn and 

 Simmenthal breeds. Simmenthals have the start, having been 

 introduced many years ago into Russia. 



At the Kharkov Exhibition of live stock, which was probably 

 the largest cattle show ever held in Russia, the exhibits of 

 large cattle reared for meat were few, and the Kalmuck 

 breed, which was formerly famous throughout Russia, was 

 represented by only seven specimens. This breed declined 

 when the rise in the price of corn tempted many landowners 

 to plough their pastures, and now, when stock-breeding has 

 taken an upward turn, attention is directed rather to crossing 

 foreign breeds with the Russian than to developing the latter. 

 The pure red Kalmuck breed, which is easy to keep and 

 requires little attention, is probably more suitable for peasant 

 holdings than a cross between Shorthorns and Kalmuck cows- 

 Shorthorns thrive under conditions unattainable for a peasant, 

 but the exhibits showed that the cross, properly carried out, 

 gives very good results in an increase of size and weight. It is 

 also stated that the cross produces oxen quite fitted for work 

 at two years, whereas the average age of maturity for Russian 

 oxen is five years. A cross between Shorthorns and Ukraine 

 cows has also given excellent results, as shown in increased size 

 and weight, improved milk, and earlier maturity. 



The most interesting specimens of sheep grown for mutton 

 were the Hampshire, Cotswold, Lincoln, Oxford, and Shrop- 

 shire rams exhibited by Cooper Nephews. The Oxford and 

 Shropshire rams shown by two Russian exhibitors produced 

 a sufficiently favourable impression, and a cross between 



British 

 Breeding 1 Stock 

 in Russia. 



for Odessa in his report for 1902.* In. 

 the report for the past year, Mr. Vice-' 

 Consul Bosanquet observes that the ShorN , 

 horn bull is said to make an excellent. 



* Journal 1 Vol. X., p. 257, Sept., 1903. 



