148 Management of Breedivg Cattle. 



worth sale must remember that they were only in what would l)e 

 called fair working condition, and I never remember a purchaser 

 at either of these sales expressing any disappointment in the 

 animals he bought ; all, I believe, that were said to be in calf 

 proved to he so ; whereas, at many Short-horn sales, where the 

 animals have been forced to a high state of condition, complaints 

 have been numerous of animals said to be in calf not proving so, 

 and of other misfortunes happening to them. 



In the selection of a bull so much depends on the character of 

 the female he is required for, that it is almost impossible to lay 

 down a rule on paper. To secure, however, a decidedly mascu- 

 line character it is better he should be too coarse than too fine. 

 The man who at present possesses an ordinary herd of cows has 

 a very simple course to pursue ; if he will procure a well- 

 descended bull from any Improved breed he will make great 

 advance ; even if the bull is not a first-rate animal himself the 

 offspring will partake most of the character of the purest and 

 oldest blood, on whichever side it may be. The produce of 

 a pure bull and an ordinary cow will often surpass in many 

 points the high-bred sire ; but it would be wrong to use a cross- 

 bred bull, even if he were very good, for his stock would almost 

 invariably be inferior to himself. 



In proof of the general result of using a pure-bred sire, I 

 knew a man who began breeding with a very inferior herd of 

 cattle, the greater portion being the black Welsh, and, by using 

 pure Short-horn bulls for three or four generations, he produced 

 from them a very respectable herd of Short-horns, and entirely 

 lost the black colour ; yet I have no doubt that if he had ventured 

 to use one of the bulls bred by himself the black colour of his 

 Welsh ancestor would have appeared again. 



On this subject I quote a passage from the writings of the 

 late Mr. Gisboi'ne, who, in speaking of the risk incurred by 

 using a male of doubtful pedigree, however promising in appear- 

 ance, says : — 



" We have before us a letter from the late Earl Spencer to a friend, in whicli 

 he says, ' Your cross will not justify a very high-jiriced bull ; but in order to 

 secure you against anythivg 'monstrous in his stock, you must ascertain that 

 you have several generations of real good blood.' With such incidents a breeder 

 of horses is familiar. He selects a bay mare with black legs, and unites her 

 with a male having the same characteristics. If the produce should be chesnut, 

 with a bald face, and what the dealers call white stockings, we can assure him 

 of sympathy from many fellow-sufferers." 



When a herd of cattle are approaching perfection the greatest 

 care and judgment are required ; having reached this point, 

 there is always a disposition to degenerate ; the best judges 

 are often deceived as to the effect of crosses, and acute obser- 



