126 



The Paris Fat Stock Show of 191 i . 



[MAY, 



Dodat freres, and included only the Nivernais and Charolais 

 breeds. 



Charolais Breed. — The Charolais is a handsome white 

 animal, which stands in the front rank of French cattle 

 for value and importance. This race originated in the 

 district of Brionnais, in the province of Charolais, and is 

 found to-day throughout the centre of France. The early 

 breeders of this race very carefully prevented the introduction 

 of foreign blood, but subsequently breeders in the Nivernais 

 district introduced the Shorthorn, and as a result of judicious 

 crossing with that breed produced a variety called the Niver- 

 nais or Charolais-Nivernais, which possesses several marked 

 improvements on the original stock. In order to retain the 

 almost pure white colour that is a characteristic of the 

 Charolais, the greatest care has to be taken in selecting the 

 Shorthorn for this cross. Not only must the beast itself be 

 of a pure white colour, but it must come of a pure white. stock, 

 or signs of reversion to type would appear in the offspring. 



The Charolais-Nivernais grows to a large size, and is the 

 finest breed in France for work and beef. The cows are, 

 however, poor milkers, and in most cases can do no more 

 than feed their young. In the districts where the beet sugar 

 industry is extensively followed this breed is very prominent. 

 The animals are of great service in preparing the land, and 

 they fatten well on the pulp of the beetroot. The bulls sell 

 at the shows held in February at prices varying from £20 to 

 ^48, and up to £80. 



Several interesting specimens of Shorthorn-Charolais and 

 Shorthorn-Nivernais crosses were to be seen at the Show. 

 The ameliorating effect of the Shorthorn is very strongly 

 marked in the improvement of the flesh-making parts and the 

 lessening of the waste portions. It would appear that the 

 gain in these respects is of considerably greater value than 

 the small loss of labouring power which is said to result from 

 these crosses. It would be interesting to see the result of 

 a cross between the Charolais and an Aberdeen-Angus. 



The Normand Breed. — The Normand breed, which is the 

 dual purpose animal of France, sometimes reaches an enor- 

 mous weight, but is of slow growth, being five or six years 

 old before being fit for the butcher. Animals have been 



