Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- PART ONE The social, economic and political context of agricultural change
- PART TWO The science and technology of the modern agricultural revolution
- 3 Problems of measurement
- 4 Mechanisation
- 5 Soils, fertilisers and water
- 6 The control of weeds, pests and plant diseases
- 7 Breeding more productive plants
- 8 Integrations and innovations in crop husbandry
- 9 Hunger in the midst of plenty
- 10 Better and more productive animals
- 11 Animal health and disease
- 12 Integrations in animal husbandry
- PART THREE How did the science-based revolution happen, and what is the way forward as support is withdrawn?
- Glossary
- Index
10 - Better and more productive animals
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 04 August 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- PART ONE The social, economic and political context of agricultural change
- PART TWO The science and technology of the modern agricultural revolution
- 3 Problems of measurement
- 4 Mechanisation
- 5 Soils, fertilisers and water
- 6 The control of weeds, pests and plant diseases
- 7 Breeding more productive plants
- 8 Integrations and innovations in crop husbandry
- 9 Hunger in the midst of plenty
- 10 Better and more productive animals
- 11 Animal health and disease
- 12 Integrations in animal husbandry
- PART THREE How did the science-based revolution happen, and what is the way forward as support is withdrawn?
- Glossary
- Index
Summary
In the spread of temperate agriculture throughout the world, British animal breeds have been prominent. The Hereford, Aberdeen Angus, Shorthorn and (to a lesser extent) Galloway type cattle were among the early colonists, and the Jersey cow was the basis of the early dairying in New Zealand. Similarly, among the sheep breeds the Southdown and the Kent or Romney Marsh have become prominent in the Antipodes, and the very important Corriedale is an inbred product of crosses between English longwool breeds and the Merino. The meat-packing industry of South America, introduced by British entrepreneurs, was at first heavily dependent on importations of British beef breeds as sires. But lest this appear a narrow nationalist point of view, mention should be made of the Brown Swiss and the Friesian, which had such an important role in world dairying; the various Indian breeds such as the Sahiwal and the Zebu crosses, which were of importance in warmer climates; and the Longhorn of Spanish (not British) origin, which pioneered in the U.S.A. At the beginning of our fifty-year period, British farmers had a deservedly high reputation as stockbreeders and that part of the industry brought considerable financial reward. This reputation continued and in 1986 the value of exports of live cattle for breeding was still £7 million, a sum augmented by a further £5 million for the export of semen. Their very success, however, had brought with it a conservatism and lack of adaptability which, as we shall see, led to changes in breed structure with the importation of genes and breeds.
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- From Dearth to PlentyThe Modern Revolution in Food Production, pp. 185 - 204Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1995