148 CATTLE ORKNEY AND SHETLAND 



shire Longhorns, or " North-country sort," which were reputed 

 to be hardier in the open strawyards in winter, and to fatten 

 more easily. In the remnant of the breed there is no trace 

 of the defects which were liable to appear through neglect 

 in breeding, />., they are no more " narrow in the chest, light 

 in the hind quarters, and long upon the legs." The milk is 

 very rich in cream in small globules, and specially suited for 

 cheese-making. 



Old Gloucester cattle are preserved in the country by : 

 His Grace the Duke of Beaufort at Badminton; G. 

 E. Lloyd Baker, Hardwicke Court; 1 The Right Hon. Sir J. 

 E. Dorington, Bart., Lypiatt Park, Stroud ; Sir Lionel 

 Darell, Bart., Fretherne Court, Stonehouse ; Sir Gerald 

 Codrington, Bart., Dodington, Chipping Sodbury. 



Shorthorn blood has been in recent years introduced into 

 some of the smaller herds, owing to the difficulty of procuring 

 bulls of pure strain and to a tendency to degeneration from 

 close breeding. 



The old Orkney breed, which was a variant of the Zetland, 

 " but even smaller and more ill-shapen," is now extinct, having 

 been gradually bred out by the use of Shorthorn and other 

 bulls brought over from the Scotch mainland. 



Shetland cattle are disappearing in the same way, and 

 only in a few districts can the true type with some difficulty 

 be found. 



Youatt says : " Shetland cattle exhibit evident traces of 

 the same origin with the West Highlanders. They have been 

 diminished in size by the coldness of the climate and the 

 scarcity of food. . . . They are small, gaunt, ill-shaped, so far, 

 indeed, as their shape can be ascertained through the long, 

 thick hair with which they are covered, and which forms an 

 impenetrable defence against the snow and the sleet. They are 

 rarely more than four feet high at the withers, and sometimes 

 scarcely more than thirty-five or forty pounds a quarter. . . . 

 On the richer pastures of the North of Scotland they thrive 

 with almost incredible rapidity, and their flesh and fat, being 

 so newly and quickly laid on, is said to be peculiarly delicious 

 and tender. They run to fifteen or sixteen, or even twenty 

 stones in weight." 



1 This herd was started with a beautiful cow from the famous old 

 herd at Gravelcourt Farm, Brookthorpe, Gloucester. 



