CHAPTER XXXI 

 FARM ANIMALS: 11. CATTLE 



Cattle. — Cattle existed in Europe and Asia before the 

 ice age. Bones of cattle have been found in the ruins of the 

 Lake-dwellers in Switzerland. Our present domesticated 

 cattle were developed from the native cattle of Great Britain 

 and western Europe, which in turn were brought there prob- 

 ably by the invading tribes from the East. The original native 

 cattle of Great Britain are represented by the wild white 

 cattle found on a reserve in southern England and by the 

 Kyloes of Scotland and the Black cattle of Wales. These 

 wild cattle are closely inbred and are being carefully pro- 

 tected. 



There are said to be more than one hundred different 

 breeds of cattle.* Only a very few of these are well known or 

 of much importance. All the breeds in America were origi- 

 nally brought from Great Britain or the Continent. The 

 most important breeds are grouped into three classes: beef 

 breeds, dairy breeds, and dual-purpose breeds. 



Beef Breeds. — Beef breeds are raised primarily for their 

 flesh-producing qualities. None but the Shorthorn gives 

 enough milk to be profitable for milk and butter production. 

 All beef breeds are blocky in appearance, having short legs, 

 deep, compact bodies, thick, deep quarters, short, thick necks, 



* Brooks' Agri-culture, p. 544. 

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