LECTURE XI. 



INTRODUCTION OF SHORTHORN CATTLE INTO 

 AMERICA. 



At the close of the long drawn, hard fought war of the 

 Revolution the sturdy American pioneers proceeded at once 

 to build up their flocks and herds. Virginia had the honor 

 of the first importations of which we have any definite ac- 

 counts. In 1783 two public spirited citizens, Messrs. Miller 

 and Gough, brought over a number of the red, white and 

 roans. These were of two distinct strains beef and milk 

 corresponding to similar strains in England. The value of 

 these improved cattle over the native strains was at once 

 recognized, and their progeny, pure-bred or grade, was in 

 immediate demand. Many of the Virginians were at this 

 time moving westward to the fertile fields of Kentucky and 

 Ohio. Among the early pioneers were the Fattens (father 

 and sons), who took both pure-bred and grade animals, de- 

 scended from the Miller and Gough importations, with them 

 to Kentucky. Other western men of both Ohio and Ken- 

 tucky, were quick to appreciate the superiority of the im- 

 proved stock, and went to Virginia for bulls descended from 

 the Miller and Gough importation. The wealth of blue grass 

 pasture in Kentucky and Ohio gave the residents of those 

 states unusual advantages in rearing market cattle. Steers 

 were profitably grazed and fattened, but a limited market 

 was the earliest handicap. The Renicks, of Ohio, however, 

 soon solved this by demonstrating that it was feasible and 

 profitable to drive fat steers from Ohio to the seaboard 

 cities Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York where they 

 sold at high prices. This spurred the farmers and breeders 

 of these states to renewed efforts in improving their cattle, 

 and, while small importations were made by men in New 

 York and New England, it remained for Col. Sanders, of Ken- 

 tucky, to make the first important importation. This was in 

 1817, and as it was before the establishment of a Herd Book 

 in England, none of the cattle were registered, but it should 



