1910.] The Danish System of Cattle Breeding. 1003 



ledged. The idea was then introduced for several farmers 

 in a district to buy and to use in common a good bull, and 

 to keep this so long as it gave satisfaction. 



This was the beginning of the so-called Associations of 

 Cattle Breeders, which arranged that only the best cows 

 should be served by the bull, and these cows should be 

 selected by the Committee. The Committee should, further- 

 more, inspect the various herds belonging to members of the 

 Association, and should ascertain the state of health of the 

 animals. The offspring of the' selected cows by the bull of 

 an Association should be presented at the local show. The 

 members of the Association were also required to keep 

 accounts of the feeding and production of the individual 

 selected cows. 



The first of these Associations was formed in 1883. During 

 the next years it found only a few imitators, but when the 

 State, in 1887, offered these Associations a yearly grant, the 

 development became a rapid one. 



There are now 1,300 Associations of Cattle Breeders with 

 1,500'bulls, and for each bull the State gives a yearly grant 

 of £8 on condition that the bull has taken a prize, that it is 

 examined by a veterinary surgeon twice every year, that the 

 best cows of the members are selected by the Committee to 

 be served by the bull, and that the Committee at least once a 

 year inspect all the herds in the Association as to their 

 health. 



The effect of these Associations on the development of 

 cattle-breeding has been very striking. In the first place, 

 1,500 really good bulls are now in constant use throughout 

 the country. The result of the work of the prominent 

 breeders is thereby turned to advantage, while the increased 

 demand for good breeding animals, resulting in better prices, 

 in its turn encourages the effort to form new breeding centres. 



The prices which these Associations pay for young bulls 

 vary a good deal, but average about £40. Some of the leading 

 Associations have paid as much as £iJo for the best bulls. 

 Generally about 80 cows are served by one bull, and the 

 annual subscription of members averages about 3s. 6d. per 

 selected cow, but is more in the Associations with more 

 expensive bulls. The members' subscription is kept down 



4 A 2 



