1910.] The Danish System of Cattle Breeding, iooi 



five or six times on the farms, and are assisted by young- 

 men who, on every twentieth day during the two years, visit 

 each of the competing herds, weigh the milk of each indi- 

 vidual cow, test its percentage of fat, weigh the fodder given 

 to each cow, and draw up the family herd-book, &c. After 

 the two years' testing the Committee of Judges are in posses- 

 sion of reliable information about the different competing 

 herds, and a reliable award can be given. Those herds for 

 which prizes have been awarded after such competitions are 

 then termed " Breeding Centres." 



A detailed report on the competing herds is published, so 

 that each farmer can form his own opinion of the herds. 

 The family herd-book drawn up for each herd is left with the 

 owner. In this herd-book the whole herd is arranged 

 according to maternal descent, and for each animal informa- 

 tion is given as to the sire and dam, description, production, 

 and prizes. This information forms a reliable and easily 

 accessible guide to intending buyers, who can soon ascertain 

 whether a certain animal belongs to a family of fixed type 

 or whether it is an isolated star. 



These competitions between entire herds, resulting in the 

 selection of breeding centres, began in the year 1884, but it 

 was not until 1894, when the Gerber transportable apparatus 

 for estimating the percentage of fat in milk was introduced, 

 that the competitions took the complete form here described. 

 In 1897, tne importance of these competitions was so gener- 

 ally acknowledged that the State gave a yearly grant of 

 ,£4,000 sterling for four years to assist them. To the best 

 breeding centres as much as ^150 could be awarded annually 

 for each of the four years. This encouragement from the 

 State had a great effect; many more herds were entered for 

 the competitions, and the attention of the whole farming 

 community was awakened to the importance of securing good 

 bulls, with the result that there was an increased demand for 

 good breeding animals at enhanced prices. This grant 

 from the State has since been discontinued, and the State 

 now pays only for the administration of the competitions. 

 But the competitions are continued, and preserve their 

 popularity, while their good influence is unabated. 



These two-yearly competitions between whole herds, as 



4 A 



