Cross-Breeding Cattle. 59 



quality. As the produce receded from the Scot and merged in 

 the short-horn, the quantity of milk increased Avith each cross, 

 yet retained much of the quality of the original dam. 



FiKST Cross, Shoet-hokn and West Highland. 



The first cross is inferior in size to that between the short-horn 

 and Aberdeen or polled Angus, and some of the other large 

 breeds, but for disposition to fatten economically and quality of 

 meat is surpassed by none. As practical illustrations of those 

 capabilities I may mention several cases as occurring under my 

 own observation. Just previous to the great Christmas market 

 of 1859, eight of the steers, then under three years old, were sold 

 at 33Z. per head to Mr. John Allday, now of the firm of Morgan 

 and Allday, salesmen. New Cattle Market. Those beasts had 

 received no extra indulgence, but were kept during the winter in 

 the usual way in the open yards along with other store cattle of 

 the same age. During the winter of 1858 their principal food 

 was barley-straw and straw-chaff, with a small admixture of 

 hay, and one bushel per head per diem of cut roots. They went 

 out to grass on the 20th of May, 1859, on an ordinary pasture, 

 where they remained till the 29th of October Avithout any extra 

 food ; at this date they Avere put into the stalls, from Avhence, 

 about the 15th of December, they Avere taken direct to the great 

 market. In the stalls their daily allowance of food was 1 bushel 

 of cut SAvedes, 8 lbs. of linseed cake, 6 lbs. of meal — half bean, 

 half barley ; they Avere much admired, and Avere pronounced to 

 be equal in quality to anything on offer that day. We had not 

 an opportunity of ascertaining their exact weights ; they Avere, 

 hoAvever, estimated by good judges to average from 125 to 130 

 stones of 8 lbs. each. 



Second Cross; History of one Steer.. 



To one steer having tAvo crosses of short-horn blood more 

 attention Avas devoted, and a correct account was kept of every 

 particular of food, Aveight, &c. ; though this was by no means an 

 isolated case, for others of the same class made equally good 

 animals. This steer Avas calved April 28th, 1858, Avas alloAved 

 to suck his dam for 12 weeks ; he Avas then weaned, and treated 

 as others of the same age. During the winter of 1858-59, in 

 addition to the usual alloAvance of SAvedes, hay, and cut chaff, he 

 had 3 lbs, per diem of good linseed-cake. About the middle of 

 May, 1859, he, Avith others of the same age, Avas put into a 

 second-rate old pasture, Avhere he remained to the end of Sep- 

 tember, living on grass alone ; he Avas then put into a box, and 



