56 THE STUDY OF BREEDS. 



(2) With good feeding they will mature for the block at 

 the age of, say, thirty months. 



V. Grazing qualities. 



(1) In grazing qualities they are about average. 



(2) Like the large bodied Shorthorns and Hereford's 

 they do not graze well on broken and rugged lands where the 

 pastures are scant. 



VI. Feeding qualities. 



(1) Their feeding qualities are of the first order, as they 

 stand confinement well and make an excellent use of the food 

 given them. 



(2) They are remarkable for their retention of symmetry 

 of form while being fattened, as they rarely become patchy 

 or disproportioned. 



(3) During recent years, pure and high grade Aberdeen- 

 Polls have won more prizes at the leading fat stock shows for 

 the number of animals shown than have been won by any 

 other breed. 



VII. Quality of meat. 



d) In quality of meat they are probably ahead of the 

 Shorthorns and Herefords, and are equal or nearly equal with 

 the Galloway and West Highland breeds. 



(2) As a rule the flesh is well mixed and contains a large 

 proportion of compact, finely grained meat, and 



(3) No other breed produces a higher percentage of dead 

 meat in proportion to the live weight. 



VIII. Milking qualities. 



(1) Formerly they were possessed of good milking 

 qualities, more especially that branch of the parent tree known 

 as the crofters' cow. 



(2) These qualities have been impaired, however, through 

 the system of breeding and management adopted, save in some 

 individuals and in a few families. 



(3) The quality of the milk is first-class. 



IX. Value in crossing and grading. 



(1) Polled Aberdeens cross particularly well with Short- 

 horn grades. 



(2) They are also excellent for crossing upon common 

 stocks in arable sections where quick feeding, absence of horns 

 and a high quality of meat are desired in the progeny. 



(3) A large percentage of the progeny are hornless and 

 black or gray in color. 



