1766 Report of Farmers' Institutes 



about the close of the eig'hteenth century, and there is a strain 

 of Shorthorns that bears his name to this day. Kichard Booth 

 founded his famous herd at Studley aljout 1790, and the Booth 

 strain of Shorthorns is still found. These two strains were 

 crossed by Amos Cruikshanks of Sittyton, Aberdeenshire, Scot- 

 land. His work resulted in the best strain of Shorthorn yet pro- 

 duced. Both the Bates and the Booth strains had serious objec- 

 tions, the Bates being too " horsey " as the breeders sometimes 

 put it ; in other words they are too long-legged. The Booth Short- 

 horns are not so objectionable in this respect, but they are plain 

 in the head and have heavy horns. The Cruikshanks strain, or 

 Scotch Shorthorns as they are usually called, are more compact, 

 shorter-legged, and better in all respects. They have won more 

 prizes in recent years than both the other strains combined. 



Between 1783 and 1795, the first importation of Shorthorns was 

 made into America by Messrs. Groff and Miller of Virginia. The 

 first direct importation of Shorthorns into New York State was 

 made by Samuel M. Hopkins of Moscow, 1815. The most notable 

 sale of Shorthorns ever held was that of Messrs. Campbell and 

 Wolcott of Xew York Mills, jSTew York, 1873. The one hundred 

 and eight animals of all ages sold, aggregated $382,000. One 

 Duchess cow brought $10,600 which at that time was the largest 

 price ever paid for a cattle-beast. 



One of the advantages of the Shorthorns over the two other 

 breeds under discussion, is that they are better milkers. If 

 there is any such thing as a dual-purpose animal among cows, she 

 is a Shorthorn. They will cross better than either of the other 

 breeds, — where there is a drop of Shorthorn blood it always crops 

 out. If Shorthorn bulls are bred on scrub cows, the offspring will 

 make fairly good cattle. Shorthoi*n cattle will gi'ow larger than 

 either of the other breeds. 



Some of the disadvantages of the breed are: Having been 

 inbred so long they are not quite so hardy as the others, — this 

 is especially true in the winter seasons; they take longer to 

 mature. It is harder to make baby beef from Shorthorn cattle 

 than from either of the other two breeds. If niatuvcd at an early 

 age, they must have a good quantity of grain, which in a grazing 

 country is an undesiralile characteristic. The fat and lean are not 

 as well intermixed as in other breeds. 



