CATTLE. 7 



SHORT-HORNS. 



THIS breed of cattle has without doubt been more popular and also more widely dis 

 seminated during the present century than any other, both in this country and 

 Europe. Their history is too well-known to require repetition, being an old and well- 

 established race. They were greatly improved and brought into general notice during the 

 latter part of the last century, by the efforts of a few enterprising breeders in the valley of 

 the Tees, England, and were formerly variously termed Durham, Teeswater, and Short-horn 

 cattle. The counties of York and Durham were especially noted for these cattle, and in 

 1783 the Durham Courlty Agricultural Society was formed, its first fair or &quot;cattle show,&quot; as 

 it was called, being held in 1 784. The establishing of this agricultural society had an influence 

 in stimulating the stock breeders of that time, since it inaugurated a demand for better stock 

 and increased care in breeding. The Colling brothers, Robert and Charles, noted for the 

 great improvements they effected in this breed, are mentioned as being exhibitors of Short 

 horn cattle at these early fairs, and also as being the first persons of that time who systemat. 

 ically fed and cared for their breeding stock, with a view to improving it to. the degree of 

 producing the best possible development; a new theory for that period. Since that time, 

 great improvements have been effected in this breed, especially in the beef -producing qualities, 

 which have been carried to the extent of deteriorating the milk-producing characteristics 

 which they formerly possessed, and which is at present the aim of some breeders to endeavor 

 to restore. Their chief merits at present, as a breed, evidently are in beef production, and 

 they are most profitably bred for that purpose, since their milking qualities have unfortunately 

 been so much neglected in breeding that generally the best cows for beef are very inferior 

 milkers, and in sections in this country, where they attain the highest perfection in form and 

 beauty, they are frequently not milked at all, the calf being allowed to run with its dam. 

 Early maturity, symmetry of form, large size, with good fattening qualities are their chief 

 characteristics. Specimens of this breed have brought at times enormous prices. Hon. E. 

 H. Hyde of Connecticut says of them: 



&quot; They are celebrated all over the country for their large size and symmetrical beauty, 

 and for the fabulous prices they have brought. There was a heifer calf of this breed sold in 

 1875 for twenty-seven thousand dollars, more valuable, indeed, than the golden calf which 

 Aaron set up for Israel to worship. It was the highest price ever paid for a year-old creature 

 in all beastdom. This calf s mother and her progeny sold for over a hundred thousand 

 dollars.&quot; 



The Encyclopaedia Britannica (vol. 1, page 388), contains the statement, that in 1873 the 

 herd of Mr. Campbell, of New York Mills, near Utica, was sold at auction, at which time 108 

 animals realized $380,000. Of these, 10 were bought by English breeders, six of which, of 

 the Duchess family, averaged $24,517, and one of these, the &quot;Eighth Duchess of Geneva,&quot; 

 was bought for Mr. Pevin Davies of Gloucestershire, at the unprecedented price of 8,120, 

 or nearly $40,000. In 1877 Mr. Simon Beatte of Annan imported a number of short-horns 

 from Mr. Cochrane of Canada, the proceeds of the sale amounting to 17,150 sterling, the 

 price of 4,300 guineas being paid for one cow. But prices approximating to such figures 

 are rare exceptions, although really fine animals of any breed will command high prices. 



The short-horn breed requires probably better care and feed in order to develop its best 

 qualities than almost any other, hence, good pasturage in summer and liberal feeding in 

 winter are essential to this object. The blue-grass region of Kentucky is especially adapted 

 to the highest development of this race of cattle, and the animals grown here are generally 

 noted for their superior excellence. They are at present bred in New England, the Middle 

 and Western States, also in Canada, where Mr. Cochrane of Hillhurst has propagated one of 

 the choicest strains of the breed by his valuable importations and careful selections in breed 

 ing. Good care and management and liberal feeding, as we have previously stated, are essen- 



