3^ 



Insurance of Live Stock. 



[APRIL, 



North Brabant, horses are classified according to their value. 

 As a rule a higher percentage is paid for horses in the higher 

 classes than for those in the lower classes, as it has been found 

 that of the animals insured for a low amount more die on an 

 average than those insured for a high amount. 



The necessary money is collected by regular premiums 

 on the insured value or by a contribution according to the losses 

 sustained, or by a combination of the two. The premium 

 varies from i|- to 3 \ per cent, of the insured value. There 

 may also be an entrance fee, either a percentage of the value 

 or a fixed sum per animal. No large reserve funds are accumu- 

 lated ; the societies usually preferring to reduce their premiums. 



Cattle Insurance. — The cattle insurance associations usually 

 insure all kinds of horned cattle above a certain age, but a 

 number of them are confined to milch cows exclusively. The 

 system of examination and valuation is very similar to that 

 adopted in the case of horses, but the percentage of compensa- 

 tion is usually lower. Some societies pay a fixed amount for 

 all cows, but this sum is naturally low, so that members are 

 frequently only compensated for a part of their loss. 



The requisite funds are collected by levying a contribution 

 in proportion to the losses sustained on the insured value, 

 by fixed premiums and by other methods, but the first way is 

 the most common. There is also a peculiar system called 

 " uitpoinden," by which, when an animal has been slaughtered, 

 the carcase is divided by weight amongst the members in pro- 

 portion to the number of cattle for which they are insured, 

 and they are bound to take the meat thus allotted to them at 

 a certain price. The sum of money thus raised serves as com- 

 pensation to the owner. Entrance fees are customary and 

 depend on the amount of the reserve fund. 



Insurance of Pigs. — The insurance of pigs takes place chiefly 

 in Gelderland and Zeeland. In the first-named province 

 this is done partly by separate associations and partly by the 

 cattle insurance associations ; in Zeeland there are numerous 

 pig insurance funds which accept pigs exclusively. 



The pig insurance funds usually accept all pigs above the age 

 of from two to six weeks. The compensation in case of death 

 is determined after death ; the animal is weighed or valued, 

 and a certain sum per kilogram or a certain percentage of the 



