142 CATTLE WELSH BLACK 



breed. They are invariably of the Middlehorned species, but 

 in regard to size they vary, in regular gradation, from the 

 largest ox to the lowest Welsh runt." 



Low (1845) records: "The other races of the Welsh 

 mountains have more or less of an affinity with the Pembroke, 

 and exhibit the traces of a common origin ; but they are most 

 of them smaller in size, etc. . . . The yellowness of the skin 

 appears as a deep orange, nearly black, on the inside of the 

 ears, the mammae, and other naked parts. This is deemed an 

 important indication of the milking properties of the cow. . . . 

 They have naturally a light hind quarter, a character common 

 to other mountain breeds. ... A mixture of foreign blood 

 takes from its hardiness and fitness for a country of mountains 

 and scanty herbage. 



" The native cattle of the island of Anglesea, ' this last 

 stronghold of British liberty and druidical worship,' are 

 allied in their essential characters to the Pembroke breed, 

 and manifest a common origin ; but they are of larger size 

 and coarser form, having acquired the characters suited to a 

 lower country. They are distinguished by the upright 

 position of the horns, and the orange-yellow colour of the 

 skin. This breed has been much mixed with Longhorns 

 from Ireland ; and various attempts have been made by 

 individuals to improve the breed by crossing of different 

 kinds. They have produced no beneficial effect upon the 

 cattle of the country, the best of which are manifestly 

 those which approach the nearest to the ancient type." 



Youatt adds : " If they are longer in preparing for the 

 market, they pay more at last ; and, like the Scots, they thrive 

 where an English beast would starve. . . . They are eventually 

 brought to the market from 60 to 80 stones, and sometimes 

 even 100 stones, and their meat will always bear a superior 

 price to that of the larger cattle. In Anglesea and in the 

 greater part of North Wales, the black cattle were formerly 

 used extensively for the plough, and even on the road ; they 

 were docile and hardy. . . . The oxen have a peculiarly 

 noble appearance" [due to castration being delayed till they 

 were a year old], "and a haughtiness of countenance a 

 striking contrast with the mild intelligence of the Devon, 

 and the quiet submission of the Hereford." 



The South Wales Black cattle in some respects resemble 

 West Highlanders ; the coat is long but wavy, or at times 

 curly, not straight like the Highland hair. They have no 

 great aptitude for fattening at an early age. When allowed to 

 come to maturity they finish admirably, both as regards 



