



LECTURE NO. 14. 



ABERDEEN-ANGUS CATTLE THEIR ORIGIN AND 



HISTORY. 



I. Fossiliferous remains that have been dis- 

 covered in Britain render it highly probable that the 

 aboriginal cattle from which existing races have 

 been derived were all horned originally, yet 



(1) Several varieties of hornless cattle have existed in 

 Britain from time immemorial, some of which have disap- 

 peared, hence 



(2) The only existing polled breeds at present are the 

 Polled Aberdeen, the Galloway and the Red Polls. 



II. The precise causes that have led to the 

 loss of horns have never been exactly understood. 



(1) It may have arisen from sudden organic changes, 

 spontaneous, accidental or proper, and was then perpetuated 

 by selection in breeding, as, 



(2) It is more than probable that these variations occurred 

 within the period of domestication. 



III. Of the four principal breeds of Scotch 

 cattle, the Ayrshires only have an admixture of for- 

 eign blood. 



(1) The other three, viz., the Aberdeen- Angus, frequently 

 called Polled Aberdeen and Angus, the Galloway and the 

 West Highland are all supposed to be descended from the 

 aboriginal wild horned cattle of Caledonia. 



(2) The minor differences which they present are doubt- 

 less due to climatic and other influences. 



IV. It is highly probable that the Aberdeen- 

 Angus cattle are indigenous to the northeastern 

 counties of Scotland, with Forfar and Aberdeen as 

 their chief centers, as 



(i) There is much evidence to show that late in the last 

 century and early in the present, polled cattle were numerous 

 in these counties, and 



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