314 



THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



SHORTHORNED CATTLE. 



At the monthly meeting of the Newcastle Farmers' Club, 

 held on Saturday, July Uth, 1860, Mr. Chrisp laid before 

 tlie Club the following paper : — 



The TeESWATEE SHOnTHOllNS — SuPrLEJIEXTARY Papee. 



Having dwelt at such length on the origin of the improved 

 breed of shorthorns [I was obliged to give a very cursory 

 glance at tliose of the present day] I therefore gladly com- 

 ply with tlie wishes of the last meeting to give a conthm- 

 ation, with a reference to a scale of the pomts of a perfect 

 animal of this breed, which may lead to determining their 

 relative value, and the establishment of a set of rules for the 

 guidance of judges of cattle shows, as well as the more 

 general satisfaction of the competitors. Though I feel the 

 difficulty of the task not more easy than to produce a mas- 

 terpiece of art in painting or sculpture, or even to breed a 

 first-rate prize animal, but still, in compliance with the 

 wishes of our worthy chairman,! make the attempt to give 

 a rough draft of what is still required, the want of which is 

 acknowledged by all who wish to see fair play at our 

 exhibiti:)ns of live stock, by the establishment of fixed laws, 

 instead of being determined by individual opuiions. Per- 

 haps the uncertainty, if not the capricious decisions of 

 the present practice, cannot be better shown than by the 

 award made at Darlington in March, 1797— when Charles 

 Ceiling's bull Favourite, then a two-year-old, was placed 

 second with the minimum prize of two guineas ; the indig- 

 nity of the position must have been felt severely by the 

 owner, as he never showed another animal at the Durham 

 Agricultural meetings. We must not forget that Favourite 

 was the sire of the celebrated Dui-ham Ox, as well as of 

 Comet, and must be considered as the great progenitor of 

 the present breed of shorthorns, through whom Hubback's 

 blood is claimed by many herds. In my fo^uer paper I 

 dwelt at some length on the conflicting accounts that have 

 been handed down of the origin of the improved shorthorns. 

 T find, however, that similar difficulties arise as to other 

 breeds, such as Ayrshires and Herefords ; nor is there any 

 less in the breeds of sheep or of even horses, so that T have 

 therefore no other choice but to assume that in the short- 

 horns the produce of particular individuals, of marked 

 qualities, have become, by careful selection, and even 

 crossing, peculiarly distinct breeds. This I do with more 

 confidence, as I find such views are now so extended as 

 to embrace all animated nature by a learned and laborious 

 naturaliit of the present day, whose researches have just 

 startled the world by the publication of his inquiries iuto the 

 "origin of species." This view has the advantage of showing 

 the uselessneas of any search after original types, and the im- 

 possibility of arriving at any satisfactory conclusion in deter- 

 mining the origin of a breed of cattle by looking for the pro- 

 genitor in the ancient forests of Europe, with the feeble light 

 of such descriptions as are handed down to us. Where all 

 nature seems varying, we must surely believe that domestic 

 animals change for the better. Be these doctrines as they 

 may, it is acknowledged at the conclusion of the eighteenth 

 century a breed of cattle appeared on the banks of the Tees, 

 surpassing all others in beautiful symmetry of form, aptitude 

 to fatten, as well sa fitness for the butcher ; consequently, 

 both pleasing to the eye and profitable to the graiier. A« 



the spirited quick-stepping horse was about this time sup- 

 planting the slow and patient ox at the plough and team, the 

 object of the cattle breeder was no longer to obtain large bone 

 and wiry sinews : consequently, C. Colling and his compeers 

 had only to look for delicate beef and plenty of fat in the pro- 

 duce of their herds, and that those joints should weigh the 

 most which brought the highest price in the shambles. 

 Having but one object in view, they had the advantage over 

 their elder brethren ; this object they pursued with zealous 

 care and undivided attention, and a considerable knowledge of 

 animals ; their eflforts were crowned with astonishing success, 

 so that prince, peer, and peasant became at once enthusiastic 

 admirers, if not breeders, of shorthorns ; nay, ladies of high 

 rank are now found amongst our successful competitors at 

 agricultural shows. Nor has the mild and docile temper of 

 the breed rendered them less a favourite with dairymaids, 

 whose well-filled pail renders them grateful for bountiful re- 

 turns of good feeding and good treatment. I must not pass 

 by their qualifications for the dairy ; no other race could 

 come near the older breed for quantity of milk, and we have 

 on record many instances of large quantities from the im- 

 proved shorthorns ; though the breeder often loses sight of 

 this merit in selecting his dams. I therefore urge in making 

 points of perfection that this object ought to be kept in view, 

 as I hold with many authorities that a tendency to lay on fat 

 it not incompatible with a good dairy cow, if due attention is 

 given to her food and other treatment. Many instances could 

 be given of a heavy milking cow becoming fat in a short time 

 when freed from the pail. But I must not dwell any longer 

 upon the general subject, which is inexhaustible, nor shall I 

 attempt to name those herds which bear the palm at pre- 

 sent. It would require a person whose life was devoted to 

 the subject, as well as to be continually travelling from 

 show to show, as well as from herd to herd, to do this satis- 

 factorily; but the public must judge for themselves as to 

 individual animals. After the promulgation of rules, this will 

 be most easily done, there being a certain standard to refer to 

 when in doubt. I must attempt to sketch out an ideal 

 Shorthorn, possessing all those perfect points which breed- 

 ers prize so much. Although most butchers like a large 

 carcase, which brings down the scale, yet they also prize the 

 greatest quantity of beef on the best joints ; where these are 

 not to be had together, the latter is preferred, as of most 

 value in the market. Therefore great size is discarded, as 

 leading to overgrown ungainly animals, difficult to fatten. 

 On the other hand, little dwarfed stunted animals are equally 

 to be avoided in breeding, these appearing to have lost that 

 healthy constitutional stamina which in the best Shorthorns 

 is so highly prized. These should be weeded out, as they 

 occasionally occur in herds from cross or close breeding, as 

 well as from food or climate, or even local causes. The 

 Shorthorn bull must have a symmetrical form, of medium 

 size; body (including quarters and neck) rather long than 

 short ; bones fine, legs short ; all choice parts well covered 

 with gelatinous flesh, and fat mixed, not patchy ; skin me- 

 dium thickness, mellow to touch ; hair fine, silky, thick set, 

 long in winter, not wiry ; head well set on to neck ; scalp 

 wide ; face dished a little, rather long than short ; fine muz- 

 zle, open nostrils ; horns medium size, fine, clear, and waxy, 

 free from black stains ; the eyes prominent, bright, but 



