132 CATTLE SUSSEX 



" Six cows from the herd of R. E. Cocks of Ranleigh, 

 near Plymouth, produced during one period of lactation an 

 average of over 969 gallons per animal, whilst another cow 

 from the herd of J. Sparrow Wroth of Coombe, near Kings- 

 bridge, in 261 days produced 1047 gallons of milk, being an 

 average of just over 4 gallons per day." A steer from Coombe, 

 sold at 32, 45. at Smithfield, " under two years of age, was 

 1 190 Ibs., showing an increase of 1.78 Ibs. per day." 



Among the most prominent of present-day breeders of 

 South Devon may be included the following : 



Butland Bros., Leigham, Plympton; R. E. Cocks, Ranleigh, 

 Plymouth ; Edward Cornish, Charleton, Kingsbridge ; W. J. 

 Crossing, Woodford, Plympton ; J. S. Hallett, Sherford Barton, 

 Plymouth ; Ben. Luscombe, Langston, Kingsbridge ; John 

 Luscombe, Coarswell, Ivybridge ; W. Merry, Great Woodford, 

 Plympton ; W. H. Pain, High House, Kingsbridge ; J. M. 

 Peeke, Hernaford, Totnes ; F. W. Rowe, Trevego, Lostwithiel ; 

 B. Trant, Trethawle, Liskeard ; W. P. Vosper, Merafield, 

 Plympton ; John Wood, Bourton, Totnes ; John Sparrow 

 Wroth, Coombe, Kingsbridge. 



The Sussex Breed ranks among the largest classes of 

 British cattle. It belongs to the old race which gave origin 

 more or less directly to the West Highland, the various 

 Welsh breeds, the Hereford, and the Devon. To the last it 

 bears a very striking resemblance, and no doubt it possesses 

 this in virtue of a collateral descent from the " red cow " that 

 at one time occupied the southern districts of England. Low 

 says (1845): "The same race of cattle which exists in the 

 mountains of North Devon yet survives in the Wealden." 

 The influence of the soil and climate of the weald 

 country has considerably modified the form and character, 

 which, it may be presumed, were at one time similar to those 

 of the Devon breed. The skins . . . are covered with short 

 hair, which has not usually the unctuous feel of the true North 

 Devons. The horns are longer, stronger, and more irregular 

 in form, with a strong similarity to the style of many of the 

 horns of the Longhorn breed. The colour is dark red at 

 times even "cherry-red," deeper than that of the North Devons. 

 Formerly both light and dark shades were met with ; the latter 

 are in certain instances almost black. The Sussex, though 

 superior to the Devon in size and strength, lacks something 



