as a kind of prize, as in the event of the sale of such an animal, weight isi
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”. a 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 gained1
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 he held in five districts, viz., at
some place in each of the parishes of Faro, Larbro, Roma, Eksta, and Oja.
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 Soder-
manland and Ostergotland.
Goats have not yet received the encouragement of State-aided prize-
competitions, but, in Skane prize-meetings for goats are supported by
a goat-breeding association which has been formed in that part of the
f country. Of the goat races, the Jamtland and the Saanen goats are best
suited to Swedish conditions. The last-named breed, which seems to be
[popular, especially in Skâne, has been imported on a fairly large scale.
Prize-competitions for pigs are also held nowadays, the first attempt
[ in this direction for the promotion of pig-breeding having been made five
I years ago by one or two Agricultural Societies, which have since had
I many imitators, especially since 1911, when the State undertook the direction
of these prize-competitions. Only two races can receive prizes,
[viz., the large white English race and the country race (Sw. lantrasen)
— Swedish or Danish.
In addition to this system of prize-competitions, various kinds of
[breeding s o c it ie e s have largely contributed to the promotion of cattle-
frearing. As regards the breeding of cattle, for example, most excellent
[work has been carried out in this direction by the “ Swedish Ayrshire
■ Society”, founded in 1901, and the “ Society for the breeding of Red-and-
! White Swedish cattle”, which was established in 1892. Quite lately, a
¡society has been formed for the breeding of red polled cattle, and another
[for the improvement of the Lowland cattle. A number of smaller
[societies, too, have been of great service to cattle-breeding, not
j the least useful being the so-called “Bull Societies”, which have been
[strongly supported both by the State and the Agricultural Societies.
[The Agricultural Societies in the Lans of Uppsala, Gottland, Vastemorr-
land, Jamtland, and Vâsterbotten have established stations for so-called
“breeding-bulls”, for which grants are made.
There are also a large number of breeding societies for sheep, goats,
¡and pigs. In 1907 was established the “ Swedish Pig-breeding Society”,
which embraces the whole of the country, and which has undoubtedly
contributed to increasing the interest in pig-breeding.
The keeping of b e rd -b o ok s and the a u c tio n s o f b r e ed in g a n im a ls have
undoubtedly been of great service in the task of improving the breeds of
¡cattle, etc. State herd-books are kept for Ayrshires, for the Alpine breed,
and for pigs, while Agricultural Societies or other associations keep herd-
| books of the black-and-white Swedish Lowland cattle, the red-and-white
Swedish cattle, the Ayrshires, the Alpine breed, goats, and pigs. The
auctions of breeding animals held every year have essentially facilitated
the procuring of prominent sires. Such auctions have been held at Malmö
since 1900, on the initiative of the Prize-Juries of the Lans of Malmôhus
and Knstianstad; at Jônkoping, Linköping, and.Skôvde, since 1903, on the
initiative of the Swedish Ayrshire Society; at Flen, since 1903, by the
¡Society for the breeding of red-and-white Swedish cattle, and at Oster-
sund, since 1908, by the Prize-Jury of Jamtland Lan.
Among other measures that have been taken for the promotion of the
reeding of cattle may be mentioned the competitions arranged by the
ate for the establishment of b r e ed in g -c e n tr e s for horned cattle; the
»rants given by the State to pig-breeding societies and p ig -b r e ed in g