Breeds Books

"Domestic cattle are ubiquitous" the authors begin. They back this up with statistics: cattle produce 90% of the world's milk, 30% of it's meat; globally, there is one bovine for every four humans; cattle represent the largest sector of agriculture throughout most of the world, and the dominant one in many countries. That is particularly true throughout the developing world which contains 70% of the global cattle population, and where demand for livestock products is expected to treble over the coming four decades. These facts set the context for this book. The cattle sector in tropical countries is an enormous and valuable resource, on which hundreds of millions of people are heavily dependent, and which faces historically unprecedented pressures for change. The authors have set out to document these cattle populations, their past and present, and even to map their future. I believe they have succeeded well beyond their declared ambitions. In effect, this book is a compendium of three separate works. The first section, titled Origins and History, is the most authoritative and coherent account of the domestication of cattle of subsequent movements of cattle, with the expansion of human husbandry, and of the place of cattle in evolving societies. A preliminary chapter reviews the archaeological evidence, and subsequent chapters deal with the spread of cattle types and systems in Asia, Africa and Latin America. The previous literature in this area is not very satisfactory. The further back one goes, the fewer the facts and the greater the room for unchallenged speculation. Much of the accepted wisdom has been based on little more than assertions of position by individual scholars. The authors have carefully reviewed all of this earlier work. They have rejected some theories such as that of Epstein and Mason on sequential migration from Western Asia as the source of African cattle. In other areas, they have strengthened our confidence in existing interpretations. They also have the good sense to identify the large areas where judgement must be withheld for the moment. Clearly, this section of the book was written some time ago. This means that there is little discussion of the exciting new layers of information that are coming from studies on molecular evolution in cattle populations, though these are noted in the last section of the book, under new technologies. This new work has already greatly clarified such questions as the origins and interactions of the Zebu and Taurus strains in Africa, and will undoubtedly lead to a much more complete picture of the origins and spread of cattle. In future editions of Payne and Hodges, it should have a substantial place. That being said, this review of the subject is better than anything that precedes it. Over 50% of the world's 800 or so identified cattle breeds are to be found in the tropics. The second section of Tropical Cattle is a detailed catalogue which covers 211 of the most notable of these. It begins with a discussion on breed classification, and moves on to breeds of Asia, Africa and Latin America. This section can be compared with Mason's " World Dictionary of Breeds Livestock" (1996) and Maule's "Cattle of the Tropics" (1990). It also updates Payne's own "Cattle Production in the Tropics" Volume 1 (1970). It is less lavish (no colour) than the recently published "Cattle Breeds - an encyclopaedia" by Marleen Felius. It is as comprehensive as such a catalogue needs to be. The place of such inventories of breeds will eventually be taken by the electronic database being assembled under the FAO led Global Animal Genetic Resources Program. Freed from the limitations of the printed medium, this will have the capacity for layers of information at whatever level of detail will be required by different users. The third section of the book, entitled "Breeding Policies", looks to the place of cattle in tropical farming systems and in particular to their genetic management and improvement. The coverage of the literature in this field is excellent, and the discussion thorough. It is informed by the experience of both authors over many decades of observing and advising on improvement of cattle in tropical countries. Their convictions are clear and unequivocal: programmed models of genetic improvement from developed economies have little chance of success, because appropriate breeding and production objectives are much more diffuse, and because the infrastructure they need (AI, recording systems) often does not exist. Likewise, breed transplants from the developed world more often than not fail. The case the authors make is persuasive and convincing. They go on to review the spectrum of cattle breeding strategies available. These range from cautious improvement of adapted local breeds, through a series of cross-breeding options to, in exceptional circumstances, breed replacement. Each case is different, and above all, requires careful study of the needs and motivation of cattle owners. They, and not governments or international agencies, ultimately control cattle breeding policy. This is a book of serious scholarship and yet with a very practical intent. For a long time into the future it will undoubtedly be the best source for those interested in the origins, background and breed variation in cattle throughout the tropical world. It will also, I believe, be the essential starting point for those professionally involved in the improvement of cattle and cattle production systems in developing countries. The wisdom and the lessons of the past have been

This book is adorable and beautifully illustrated, and I recommend it to anyone with a child who enjoys reading about animals. I am especially proud because the dog featured is a pointer puppy that I bred called Jack! I am thrilled to see him on paper in such a sweet and charming book. :-)

Jane Cannon
Caliban Pointers
Baton Rouge, LA

I had never seen this book and bought it blind on marketplace and all I can say is WOW! I wish I would have bought it sooner!!

It contains 12 chapters
~The wolfs descent
~The healthy dog
~Feeding and nutrition
~Canine structure
~Life support systmes
~The respiratoty systam
~The dogs world
~The skin
~The next generation
~The question of inheritance
~The Canine athlete
~Alternative approaches

Each chapter is very detailed with many drawings and photos of a healthy dog and problems that can arise. This book has a good section on first aid and a supply list for your kit and advice on what to do at home on while in route to the vet. Detailed instructions on bandaging variuos parts of the body and the easiest way to give medicines (liquid, pill, topical)

Chapter on how to elvuate your dogs food and what each part of the digestive system does. Also, what each ingredent in food does for your dog at diffent stages in his life (puppy, adult, senior).

Skeletal chapter very detailed showing normal bones and also problems in the bones and muscles. Detailed on many diesases that plague the bones with the appropate treatment listed.

Has a chapter devoted to the senses of the dogs and how problems in each sense affect the dog. Also covers behavioral problems in this chapter with ways to correct each problem.

Breeding chapter discusses pros and cons of breeding, spaying and neutering, natural breeding, artifical inseminaltion (very small section), ways to confirm pregnancy, whelping and complications.

Genetics chapter is a little more complicated, but has diagrams to help. Also has a chart of genetic defects in the dog and the mode of inheritance and age of onset.

Exercise chapter is a good outline for anyone with a sporting dog. (I have chi's so I didn't get much use from this one)

The book ends with alternative approaches showing different ways to deal with common problems. I have no idea if these work, but several vets wrote this book, so I assume it's pretty safe to say that they can't hurt, however in any medical emergency the only thing to do is rush to the vet, these are just suggestions which readers may find helpful for supportive therpy for non-life threatening problems.

Overall I rate this book very highly in my canine library. True, it is not the Mereck Vet Handbook, but for the average owner it is a great book with many photos and clear cut info.

This is a great book about cats. It tells you everything about them, how to take care of them, and how to treat them. If you want to know everything about cats, this is the book to turn to. I bought this book for my cat loving daughter for her birthday. She loved it! She has a black domestic long hair whom she adores. She tried all the things that she learned in the book. She even taught her kitty a few tricks. This is definetly a great book and I also reccomend 'Totally Fun Things To Do With Your Cat' By Maxine Rock and 'Cat Body Language Phrasebook' By Trevor Warner. 'Totally Fun Things To Do With Your Cat' is a very fun book because it shows you how to bring out the activeness and curiousity in a cat, and different fun activities you can do with it. The 'Cat Body Language Phrasebook' is a good book to learn about why your cat does what it does. All three of the books are very good books and I reccomend them all.

This book has worn pages from it's use. It is very informative and an oustanding resource to review pros and cons of a breed through the use of a picture key. Not only would I recommend this book for the dog lover's library, but it would be very helpful for anyone trying to choose a breed that is right for them.

This book has lots of information on breeds, which is what I need most. It tells about lots of breeds including the Furioso (What is that??) and the Haflinger, my favorite. It also tells about horse care. I love that it talks about the Shetland Grand National! In the horse care section, it tells you what riding clothes to wear. Don't listen about the top. It might be fine in the UK, but in the US you wear a shortsleeve top (sometimes). I hope you all get this book!!! To learn more about what I mentioned, get this awesome book!!!

This book is fantastic. It is not easy to find information on uncommon breeds. And this book provides the reader with all the needed information on many rare breeds. I stongly suggest this book to all dog-lovers who want to learn more about uncommon breeds like Canaan Dogs.

Thanks Stephanie for a very cute and enjoyable book! As one of Uno's breeders I just loved it! I will be making sure our local elementary schools all have one ;-)

Leah Bertagnolli
Windkist Beagles

This is the best mountain man book ever written,it is also the only book that was so good that I read it twice. Very descriptive and grapfic of how the mountain man-trapper must have lived.

I enjoyed this concise review of the history US Marine First Division, aka "The Old Breed." While the book concentrates on
its WWII service at Guadalcanal, Pelelieu, and Okinawa, there is a brief section covering Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, and Somalia.

There are sections on the people and the insignia, clothing, and equipment used during WWII. If you are a collector, history
buff, or re-enactor, this volume 8 of the Spearhead series will be of interest.