SOME HISTORIC KENTUCKY STOCK. 291 



fact that the two highest-priced cows sold at 

 auction in America prior to the Civil War- 

 imp. Mazurka and imp. Rachel 2d were repre- 

 sentative of Booth blood the cross of the Duke 

 of Airdrie upon the Kentucky-bred cows proved 

 so satisfactory that the Bates cattle straight- 

 way attained a widespread popularity. As the 

 herds of the Central West the present seat of 

 Short-horn power in America were primarily 

 founded by purchase, mainly in Kentucky after 

 the Duke of Airdrie's use, it will be of interest 

 to note briefly the main facts concerning his 

 career. 



Duke of Airdrie (12730). It is not too much 

 to say that this impressive Bates Duchess sire 

 did more to shape the course of Short-horn 

 breeding in the West during the twenty years 

 following his importation than any other ani- 

 mal of that period. It will be remembered 

 (see pages 266-268) that Mr. Alexander brought 

 him to Kentucky in September, 1855. He was 

 at that time two years old. He was immedi- 

 ately put in service in Mr. Alexander's mag- 

 nificent herd of cows and there had an extra- 

 ordinary opportunity. In March, 1857, he was 

 let for a year to George M. Bedford of Bourbon 

 County, under a contract permitting the bull 

 to serve fifty cows, for a net sum of $1,250. 

 Mr. Alexander, with his usual generosity, per- 

 mitted substitutions in cases where cows failed 



