ioo2 The Danish System of Cattle Breeding, [march, 



well as the family herd-books drawn up in connection with 

 them, are special Danish features. 



Family herd-books have been drawn up for many other 

 herds than those which have been selected as "Breeding- 

 Centres," and they form a valuable help in the management 

 of the herd. Altogether, six hundred family herd-books are 

 in existence. There are, of course, also the official herd-books 

 for both breeds of Danish dairy cattle. 



I have hitherto dealt with the systematic endeavours to 

 encourage the breeders, and to find the best breeding centres 

 and the animals within these which are considered most 

 valuable for improving the breed. The chief aim has been 

 to encourage economical dairy-farming; it is not only the 

 points of a pure typical breed and a harmoniously developed 

 milking strain which have been aimed at, but a large yield 

 of milk and a high content of fat have also been duly con- 

 sidered. Definite information as to the yield of the cows 

 and the yield of the dam of the bulls is demanded, and this 

 information enters directly into the judging of the animals. 

 For our ultimate goal is a breed of cattle not only fine in 

 form and typical as milkers, but also and chiefly a breed 

 giving a good money return. 



I shall now deal with the efforts which have been made to 

 let cattle-breeding in general benefit from the result of the 

 work of prominent breeders, and thereby improve the position 

 of dairy-farming throughout the country. Two features 

 must be mentioned : the Associations of Cattle Breeders, or 

 Cattle-Breeders' Societies, and the Control Unions or Cow- 

 testing Associations. 



Associations of Cattle Breeders, — Before the year 1870 

 little attention was given to the bull ; the nearest bull or 

 the cheapest bull was considered the best. The bull was 

 generally used from one to two years old and then killed, 

 so that before the influence of the individual bull could be 

 traced in the offspring the bull had disappeared. 



With the improved conditions in the seventies this was 

 gradually altered, but it was not till the eighties, when the 

 co-operative dairies caused greater attention to be given to 

 the feeding and the production of the herds, that the influence 

 of the sire as equal to that of the dam was generally acknow- 



