CHAMBERS'S INFORMATION FOR THE PEOPLE. 



by a long course of selection, have increased their 

 size, and given them more symmetry, and greater 

 aptitude to fatten. The above is a representation 

 of a Polled Angus Bull which was reared by Mr 

 Watson, and obtained the first prize at the High- 

 land Society's meeting at Edinburgh in 1848. 

 The polled Scots have all a family likeness ; and 

 the difference of climate and mode of treatment 

 in the west and east of Scotland account in part 

 for the rougher coat of the Galloway. The polled 

 Angus and Aberdeen are of larger size than the 

 Galloway nearly equalling the Short-horn ; body, 

 long and deep, but somewhat flat on the sides ; 

 skin of medium thickness ; hair, short and glossy. 

 The most esteemed colour is black. Occasionally, 

 the udder and a portion of the belly are white 

 marked. As milkers, the improved polled are not 

 remarkable. As cattle for the yoke, they are 

 equal to any British breed, being agile, quick- 

 steppers, and hardy. They maintain their pro- 

 creating powers to a longer period than any other 

 British breed. There are several instances on 

 record of cows breeding above the age of twenty 

 years, and producing upwards of twenty calves. 

 It is as beef-producers of the highest quality and 

 flavour that these polled breeds are so highly 

 esteemed. As turnip-cultivation has extended in 

 the districts where they are bred, almost the whole 

 are now fattened in the north, and sent direct to 

 the London markets, live or dead. A cross be- 

 tween a well-selected Short-horn and these polled 

 breeds produces superior animals size, early 

 maturity, and quality of flesh being combined. 



Highland cattle are much esteemed for the 

 quality of the beef. The West Highland are the 

 best known ; they are found in the greatest per- 

 fection in Argyleshire and the Western Islands 



West Highland Bull 



of Scotland. The above is a drawing of a 

 West Highland bull, the property of Mr Duncan 

 M'Naughton of Cashlie, which carried off the first 

 prize at Edinburgh in 1848.* They are the most 

 picturesque of all the British breeds ; being hand- 

 some in form, straight from the head to the tail ; 

 body, round and symmetrical ; legs, short and 

 firmly set The head is carried high ; the fore- 

 head is protected by long shaggy hair ; the eyes, 

 large and lustrous ; horns, long, spreading, and 

 pointing upwards. The skin is usually thick, 

 covered with a coating of shaggy hair, which 

 protects them from the moist and stormy climate 

 of their native hills. The colour is generally 



* We are indebted to the Farmer's Magazine for this and the 

 Polled Angus Bull. 

 628 



black ; but they are to be found of all colours, 

 from the light yellow or gray, almost white, to- 

 the deep yellow, red, and duns. The variety in 

 colours heightens the picturesqueness of a herd 

 of Highland cattle. They are at first small, 

 but they increase rapidly when transferred to 

 the rich pastures of the south, and are usually to 

 be found grazing in the vicinity of gentlemen's 

 seats. They are, as dairy-stock, distinguished for 

 rich rather than for abundant milk. They do not 

 continue fully profitable for the same period as 

 the Ayrshire cow. The calf is generally suckled 

 where extensive herds of West Highlanders are 

 kept. This breed can exist on the coarsest herb- 

 age, and maintain its footing where no other would 

 be safe. 



Orkney cattle are of small size colours black, 

 or black and white. They are stunted in form, 

 deficient in symmetry, and do not arrive early at 

 maturity. The introduction of Short-horn bulls 

 for crossing the native Orkney cow, will in a short 

 time entirely change the character of the cattle 

 sent from these islands to the mainland. Already 

 the improvement in the stock sent out is very 

 marked. 



The Shetland Islands possess the smallest of 

 the British breeds. When fattened, they seldom 

 reach twenty-four stones of fourteen pounds. The 

 colours are varied brown and white, black and 

 white, yellow, cream-colour, &c. As milkers, the 

 Shetland cow, for the small quantity of food con- 

 sumed, yields a large quantity of rich milk. The 

 produce of a Shetland cow and Short-horn bull 

 is more like the 'Short-horn than the Shetland; 

 but they are generally disproportioned ; they 

 rapidly acquire flesh, and such crosses have been 

 sold at ^24 when under two years old. The cattle 

 in Shetland, particularly during winter, resort to 

 the sea-shore to eat sea-weed. 



The Kerry is the only native Irish breed, and is 

 confined to the western and more mountainous 

 parts of Ireland. They are equally diminutive 

 with the Shetland, are hardy, and can subsist on 

 scanty fare. They are of various colours, but 

 black is the most common in the Improved Kerry. 

 They are well adapted for cotter holders in the 

 mountain districts, yielding a considerable quantity 

 of rich milk. 



We have thus briefly treated of the breeds of 

 cattle valuable in Great Britain. The most gener- 

 ally esteemed is the Short-horn. The Ayrshire is, 

 however, best for the dairy; but the character of 

 the climate, herbage, and local treatment, aU in- 

 fluence the question of adaptability of breeds for 

 particular districts or management. There are 

 inferior animals of all breeds ; and on fixing upon 

 a breed, it is equally important to study to secure 

 the best specimens, whether the object be for the 

 dairy, or for the production of cattle intended for 

 the shambles. 



TREATMENT OF DISEASES. 



Cattle are subject to various diseases, the result 

 of improper treatment, or of causes connected with 

 climate, which it is difficult to guard against. 

 Many diseases can be traced to hereditary predis- 

 position, such complaints generally proving the 

 most obstinate to treat. By attention to feeding, 

 shelter, and cleanliness, much can be done to pr 

 mote a healthy condition. Cattle housed duri 



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