The Three Leading Breeds of Beef Cattle 1767 



IIEREFORDS 



Prior to the last half of tho eighteenth century hut little is 

 known of the Hereford cattle. They are therefor© not as old a 

 breed as the Shorthorns ; that is, they have not been bred so long 

 along distinctive lines. The original cattle were a solid red, and 

 they were crossed with the white cattle of Wales, thus enlarging 

 their frames and giving them white markings. In the eighteenth 

 century thcv became noted for their good grazing and beef- 

 making properties. The most noted of the early improvers of this 

 breed was Benjamin Tompkins and his son. Like Batewell, he 



Fig. 140. Hekefokd Bill, Owned by Cottrell 

 Valley Farm, Hoosic Falls, JST. Y. 



improved his cattle through the most careful selection, in mating, 

 and through iu-and-in breeding. The first importation of Here- 

 fords was made into the LTnited States bv Henrv Clav in 1817. 

 William H. Sotham, of I^Tew York, who has done more to advance 

 the Hereford interests than any other man, perhaps, made three 

 importations into the State of Xew York, l^early every state in 

 the Union has its quota of Herefords, but they are most numerous 

 in the Southwest. 



Some of the advantages of the breed are: They readily adapt 

 themselves to almost any country, and they have proved them- 

 selves eminently fitted for range conditions. In early maturing 

 qualities, they are superior to the Shorthorns. For baby-beef pro- 



