SOMERFORD PARK HERD 151 



large and small, on the skin of the body, with white hair, 

 which are completely obscured during winter, but show 

 through the thin summer coat of hair. The skin of the 

 head is black underneath both the characteristic black ring 

 round the eye and the white or mottled hair covering other 

 parts of it. Some cows have the patches of black skin 

 expanding until they cover the back like a sheet of black 

 cloth thrown over it, which produce white hair similar to 

 that on some of the smaller spots on others. In 1904, 

 one cow, that when in full coat showed only a few black 

 spots on the body, was black-skinned all over, except a 

 speckled 4 udder. The eyes of the Somerford Park cattle are 

 very black, large, and prominent. The forehead is remark- 

 able for width, and the crown is high and massive. The 

 ears should not be very rough with hair. Very few have red 

 ears, although for some years subsequent to the rinderpest a 

 bull with red ears and muzzle was used. In some good 

 specimens the ears are set very low. The cows are normally 

 fertile, but there is a tendency to produce more female than 

 male calves. Two possible indications of the effects of con- 

 sanguineous breeding were noticeable in a tendency in one 

 cow to protrusion of the vagina, and, in a few cases, in a 

 loose attachment of the shoulder-blade, or scapula, to the 

 trunk. 



The milking powers of certain members of the breed are 

 exceptionally good. In 1893 their daily average, when in full 

 flow at pasture, was 3 gallons each. But individual cows 

 appear now and then which give, when " in bloom," as much 

 as 14 quarts at a milking, or 7 gallons in the day. The best 

 specimen in 1904 gave little more than half this amount. 

 When dry the cows are not deficient as beef-producers. A 

 moderately fat six-year-old cow killed by a local butcher in 

 the winter of 1904-5, weighed, fore quarters 7 score 1 11 Ibs., 

 and hind quarters 6 score 10 Ibs., equal to 28 score for the 

 whole body. The quality and flavour of the beef was 

 excellent, but the fat was very yellow in colour, resembling 

 that of Guernsey beef. The herd was one year crossed with 

 a Shorthorn bull from Derbyshire after being reduced by the 

 rinderpest. Shorthorn qualities were thus introduced. For 



1 A score, =20 Ibs., is a local weight by which fat cattle and pigs are 

 sold. 



