BREED OF CATTLE. 321 



A dozen heifer calves brought L.210, or L.17, 10s. on the 

 avera<Te. The highest averages in all classes were made by the 

 cattle belonging to Mr M'Conibie of Tillyfour, and were as 

 follows : — bulls, L.47, 5s. ; cows, L.45, 15s. ; two-year-old heifers, 

 L.57, 17s. 6d. ; yearling heifers, L.34, 19s. 3d; and heifer calves 

 L.23, 2s. He also secured the highest prices for individual 

 heifers and heifer calves, being for a two-year-old, L. 79, 16s. ; 

 for a yearling, L.55, 13s. ; and for a heifer calf, L.82, lis. The 

 bull and cow which sold for most money belouged to Mrs 

 Brown of Westerton, for which L.99, 15s. and L.69, 6s. were made 

 respectively. In the present season (1876) there have been 

 several draft sales and one or two dispersions. The Ballindalloch 

 and Drumin joint draft sale was the best of the kind ever held 

 in the north, the spirited bidding and high prices paid affording 

 strong testimony of how rapidly the polled breed is growing in 

 popularity. In another part of the report we refer to the high 

 averages obtained. At the Mulben dispersion, an example of the 

 way in which the Tilly four Prides are rising in value was 

 furnished. Five years before, the late Mr Paterson paid 29 

 guineas for a calf of this noble family at Mr M'Combie's sale. 

 Notwithstanding two or three mishaps relative to the death of 

 calves descended from her, the 29-guiuea purchase with three 

 of her progeny, realized L.283, 10s., or an average of L.70, 17s. 

 6d. per head.' Examples like this afford ample proof not only 

 that the black skins are profitable, but also that they are gain 

 ing esteem. 



Feeding and Preparing for Marlcct. 



In order to show the great importance of cattle -feeding in the 

 district where the polled breed forms no inconsiderable propor- 

 tion of the live stock, we may state that it is computed that 

 about 42,000 cattle are annually fed in the country- lying round 

 Aberdeen. These represent a total annual value of a little 

 over one million pounds sterling. About 34,500 head are ex- 

 ported, either alive or as dead meat, to London and other large 

 towns. Successful feeding may therefore be looked upon as a 

 sine qiia non in the farming of the part alluded to. As a strik- 

 ing example of this, we may adduce the practice of Mr M'Combic 

 of Tilly four, than wIkjui ikj better feeiler can be found. The 

 forward bullocks are tied up early and finished ofi' in October 

 with turnips, cake, and straw. The larger and better sorts are 

 usually destined for the* Islington, Liverpool, and Edinburgh 

 Cln-istnias markets, where they almost always come ofl' con- 

 querors in the peaceful showyard battles. Very little cake is 

 given, and then only an allowaniM* of 3 to 4 lbs. daily, for a short 

 time towards the lini-^h. Indeed, the thriving qualities are so 

 marked that the Christmas cattle are not inifrcquently thought 



X 



