South Devon Cattle. 59 



In order to secure that similarity and uniformity should be 

 obtained in the breed, aa its quality became recognised and its 

 reputation extended beyond its native sphere, the Council of 

 the Herd Book Society, of which Mr. Alfred Michelmore, of 

 Totnes, has been the secretary since its formation, drew up 

 several years ago an official scale of points of excellence, which 

 should be an index to breeders of the class of animal at 

 which they should aim, and the efforts made to reach the 

 standard have been so general that to-day animals failing to 

 fulfil these characteristics are the exception in the herds of the 

 large number of cai'eful breeders. 



The "points," which give a good idea of the class of beast 

 the South Devon is, are as follows : — 



Generally. — Rich medium red in colour, hide of moderate 

 thickness, loose, and mellow, well covered with soft curly hair, 

 straight over the back and rump, deep and full in girth, and 

 full at the chest, shoulders covered at the points, and fiat on 

 the top, bone of moderate size, tail commencing from line of 

 back, and hanging below the hock with a good brush, pins 

 fairly wide, but not very prominent, flanks deep, forming 

 straight underline, full and deep in rounds, rump well filled 

 and straight from leg to pin, ribs wide, deep, and well back to 

 the pin, nose white and wide. 



Bulls. — The head massive, and broad in the forehead, 

 but not coarse, wide from eyes to nose, and well covered 

 with curly hair, eyes wide apart, nose white and wide, horns 

 white or yellow, wide at base, and tapering with downward 

 tendency. 



Females. — The head broad, and of medium length, eyes 

 full, horns white or yellow, wide at base, tapering, and fairly 

 straight, the udder well forward, and projecting behind, not too 

 fleshy, teats of fair size, regular and well distributed. 



It may be mentioned also that the Herd Book Society have 

 prepared a pamphlet on the breed, which is printed in English, 

 Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese, and this should prove particu- 

 larly valuable in introducing the breed to prospective foreign 

 purchasers. The illustrations of a typical bull and heifer which 

 are printed on pages 54 and 55 are those which also appear in 

 the pamphlet. 



The claim that the South Devons are the heaviest cattle 

 in the world, and that they excel both for beef and milk, 

 at first sight would appear to be hard to sustain, but it will 

 not be difficult to substantiate the assertion in both respects. 

 Dealing first with the prolific milk yields, one experiences 

 the difficulty that no regular system has yet been instituted 

 for keeping daily records, and it is consequently necessary 

 to quote performances in open competitions, and add to them 



