





THE DUAL-PURPOSE BREEDS 



LECTURE NO. 37. 



POLLED DURHAM CATTLE THEIR ORIGIN AND HIS- 

 TORY, CHARACTERISTICS AND PRINCIPAL POINTS. 





ORIGIN AND HISTORY. 



I. Polled Durhams originated in the United 

 States, and more particularly in the state of Ohio. 



(1) The development of this breed has all been accom- 

 plished within the last two or three decades, and 



(2) It has been done by several breeders who for a time 

 worked independently of one another, though essentially on 

 the same lines. 



(3) The efforts of Dr. W. W. Crane of Tippecanoe City, 

 O., to popularize the breed have been abundant and unceasing. 



II. The Polled Durhams have come from two 

 different sources of ancestry. 



(1) One branch has been established through the crossing 

 of pure Shorthorn males upon selected common muley cows. 



(2) The other is pure Shorthorn but hornless. 



III. The following details relate to the estab- 

 lishment of the Polled Durhams upon a muley 

 foundation : 



(1) Good common muley cows were selected, of large 

 form and good milking qualities. 



(2) These were crossed by pure Shorthorn bulls, red in 

 color. 



(3) The female progeny only were reared for a time, and 

 of these only such as were hornless. 



(4) When possessed of 75 per cent of Shorthorn blood, 

 and hornless, they were considered eligible for entry in the 

 record, but the standard has been raised at certain times, as 

 stated below. 



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