CHARTLEY PARK BREED 47 



and some acres of the park were drained to improve the 

 pasture. The herd recovered and increased in number for a 

 time. After more than twenty years a similar but more 

 serious collapse occurred in 1901, when the numbers were 

 reduced to twenty-four a figure still further diminished to 

 seven in May 1905, when all but a bull and cow were removed, 

 on their purchase by the Duke of Bedford, to Woburn Park. 1 

 Isolation at birth and foster-mothers were tried, but the 

 inherent wildness of the creatures even at this early stage 

 was not overcome, and the effort failed. It is the opinion of 

 this expert that tuberculosis was introduced into the wild herd, 

 probably years before symptoms of disease were noticed, by 

 "ley" cattle (for temporary grazing) admitted into the park, or 

 by contaminated hay either bought from tenants for winter 

 food, or grown in the park on land on which diseased ley cattle 

 had recently grazed. Their herding together in or near the 

 shelter sheds while consuming hay in winter provided ample 

 opportunity for the spread of the disease, especially among 

 cattle in poor condition suffering from constitutional weak- 

 ness due to extreme consanguineous breeding. The cattle 

 have for many years been fed during winter on meadow hay 

 cut from the park, and about I J Ib. of cake daily has been 

 recently added. Since coming into close contact with the 

 attendants they have been quite docile with them, except when 

 with young calves ; but several cows show suspicion of 

 strangers, and clearly indicate that it would not be safe for 

 anyone but a keeper to approach near, even at feeding 

 time, when they are quietest. As the bulls have been shut 

 out of the herd, the majority of the calves have come at a 

 suitable time in spring. Few cases of abortion have occurred. 

 Heifers usually breed when about two years old. The only 

 barren cow in the autumn of 1904 (which took but would not 

 stand to the bull) was lame, and showed strong indications of 

 degeneration and weakness from close breeding and, no doubt, 

 also tuberculosis. 



Black (never black-and-white) calves are not infrequently 

 dropped by cows of this breed ; but with the exception of one 

 female born in March 1892 (which gave birth to a beautifully 



1 On 8th December 1904, they were offered at auction by Walton & 

 Lea in London upset price, ^1000. As only one bid of ^100 was made, 

 they were withdrawn, and subsequently sold privately. 



