408 



Cattle-Breeding in Germany. 



[OCT, 



The distribution of these subventions is apparently left very 

 largely in the hands of the Agricultural Chambers, who apply 

 them according to local requirements. Of the above total 

 £37,1 50 was allotted to these bodies. 



Without attempting to describe in detail the steps taken for 

 the encouragement of cattle-breeding, which vary considerably 

 in the different German States, the following notes on some of 

 the methods adopted may be found of interest.* 



1. Premiums or Pi'izes at Shows. — In using the State 

 grants for this purpose, conditions are usually attached which 

 are considered likely to improve the breed of cattle in the 

 neighbourhood. In East Prussia only the two principal breeds 

 of cattle are admitted for awards, divided, according to age, 

 into four classes for bulls, four for cows and heifers, and two for. 

 draught oxen. The premiums from State sources are not to be 

 less than £3 15s, except in the case of young bulls and heifers, 

 when they may be as low as £2 10s. The animals shown must 

 have been six months in the district and in the possession of 

 the exhibitor, and the same animal can only receive one prize 

 annually. Only one-half of the premium is paid at the time 

 of the exhibition, the balance becoming payable at the end of 

 'a year, on the owner showing, in the case of a bull, that it is 

 still available for service, and in the case of a cow that it has 

 borne a calf within the year. 



Prizes to which somewhat similar conditions are attached are 

 given generally at the shows throughout Germany, and the 

 total sums distributed from State sources in this way are rela- 

 tively considerable, thus £5,900 was allotted in Baden in 1901, 

 £3,400 in Wurtemberg, £770 in Saxony, £3,070 in Bavaria, 

 and £2,200 in Alsace-Lorraine. 



2. Premiums for Entire Herds. — An interesting system in- 

 tended to promote the breeding of cattle on small farms is that 

 of giving prizes for the herd as a whole. These prizes are 

 limited in East Prussia to farms not exceeding 180 acres and 

 not having more than thirty cattle over one year. In judging, 

 marks are allotted thus: very good, 4 ; good, 3 ; satisfactory, 2; 



* See Die Rindviehzucht im Inund-Anslande, 1905, and Die bffentlkhen 

 Massnahmen zur Forderung der Rinderzucht^ 1 905. 



