THE BEEF BREEDS OF CATTLE 247 



they do not attain so great size as some of the other beef 

 breeds, yet they are more economical feeders, especially 

 where a large proportion of roughage has to be consumed. 

 When the numbers of each breed are considered, the Gallo- 

 ways top the market at the great live-stock centers as 

 often as any other breed. The killing qualities are in 

 their favor because, as a rule, the Galloways have com- 

 paratively little offal or excess fat, and consequently they 

 dress a very high percentage of marketable beef. 



280. Use for hides. In midsummer the hide of the 

 Galloway has no greater comparative value than that of 

 any other breed. From November to March, however, 

 when the coat of hair is long and at its best, the Galloway 

 hide is worth five to eight cents per pound more than the 

 hide of an animal of any other breed. There was a time 

 when the western plains were covered with buffalo, which 

 produced millions of robes, but these animals are now 

 almost extinct, and the Galloway is the only domestic 

 animal of the bovine race that can roam the plains and 

 produce a superior quality of beef and robes that can 

 take the place of the hides of the buffalo of days gone by. 



281. Use for grazing. As grazers, the Galloways are 

 seldom equaled and never excelled. It has already been 

 mentioned that the habitat of the Galloway was for 

 centuries in the southwest of Scotland. They were often 

 kept on the hills where the pasture was scant, and they 

 invariably gave a good account of themselves. They re- 

 spond readily to the luxuriant pasture of the valleys, but 

 thrive and seem contented on the bleak, scant forage of 

 the moorland. For a time they had a struggle for existence 

 in this country, due to the keenness of their rivalry with 

 the other beef breeds. Their persistent struggles and 

 many victories in the show-yard in recent years, however, 



