Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - III. Rural Husbandry. Introd. by H. Juhlin Dannfelt - 2. Live-Stock - In General, and the Rearing of Cattle and Pigs in Particular. By H. Funkqvist
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86
iii. rural husbandry.
as a kind of prize, as in the event of the sale of such an animal, weight is
often attached to its possession of such a mark.
After the close of the competition, one of the members of the prize-jury
usually gives a short account of the meeting, at the same time offering advice
and information respecting the breeding, rearing and care of cattle, etc. Such
lectures, illustrated as they are by the living animals present at the show, have
proved to be very effective. From this short account of the Swedish system of
prize-competitions for cattle, it will be seen that an endeavour is being made by
this means to benefit the small farmers and to awaken their interest in improved
methods of cattle-breeding. A speaking witness to the lively interest that is taken
in these prize-meetings is shown by the fact of the great increase each year in
the number of animals exhibited. In 1912, there were exhibited 60 060 animals,
52 846 of which were "passed". Of this latter number, 14 406, or 24 %, were
pure-bred animals; 3 246 were Ayrshires, 2 426 were of the Lowland race, and
6 795 belonged to the Alpine race.
This system of prize-competitions has undoubtedly contributed to the fact
that especially the small farmers have gained an insight into the great importance
for agriculture of the care of cattle. Everywhere in the kingdom the work that
is carried on for the improvement of the various breeds is taken up with
growing interest, and earnest endeavours are being made, by means of suitable
feeding and rearing to obtain better milk- and meat-producing cattle. The farmers
are everywhere of the opinion that the revenue of the farm is to be gained
principally out of the farmyard, where a steadily increasing proportion of the
crops is transformed into milk and meat, etc. By means of a rational system
of cattle-breeding a considerable improvement has been made in the various
breeds of cattle, and in other respects, too, the management of the farmyard
seems to be the branch of agricultural economy that has made the greatest
progress.
Prize-competitions for sheep have taken place since 1868 on the Island
of Gottland, but nowhere else in Sweden. The rules for these competitions
were issued on January 12, 1910, and have been in force since the
beginning of 1911. According to these regulations, prizes for breeding-animals
are for rams only, and meetings are to be held in five districts, viz., at
some place in each of the parishes of Fårö, Lärbro, Roma, Eksta, and Öja.
In spite of these prize-competitions, sheep-rearing has declined on the
island, as it has on the mainland.
The breeding material employed for the Gottland sheep is the Cheviot
ram, some of the sires being imported direct from Scotland, while others
have been reared on the island. The breed in question has proved very
suitable on the Swedish mainland, too, especially in Norrland and the
central parts of the country. Some English races, too, such as the
Oxford-shiredown, the Shropshire, and the Southdown, are employed in the southern
and central parts of the country for the improvement of the stock. The
merino breed, which during the 18th century was comparatively numerous
in Sweden, is now represented by only a few hundred animals in
Södermanland and Östergötland.
Goats have not yet received the encouragement of State-aided
prize-competitions, but, in Skåne prize-meetings for goats are supported by
a goat-breeding association which has been formed in that part of the
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