INTRODUCTORY. 



seriously compromised. Wherever tlie stock is treated naturally 

 and tlie bulls selected with care, barrenness is not present in the 

 Shorthorn to a greater extent than in other cultivated breeds. 



The Herefords, a much older breed, have never become so 

 thoroughly scattered although they have pushed their way 

 towards the circumference of a wide circle, and have displaced 

 or become mixed with the native breeds. Thus we find them 

 in Shropshire, Warwict, Stafford, Monmouth, and several of the 

 Welsh counties. G-reat attention has been paid to this breed of 

 late years, and in many points of general utility the Herefords 

 are unrivalled. The quality of the beef, and the capacity of the 

 beast to lay it on rapidly and in beautiful proportions of fat and 

 lean, are remarkable. The springy firm touch of a well-fed 

 Hereford is due to the distribution of the fatty globules. It is 

 this combination of hardy and grazing properties that has of 

 recent years created such a demand for well-bred animals from 

 American breeders, and has given a great stimulus to breeding 

 and great care as to the registration of pedigrees. So important 

 is the breed considered in the States, where many breeding 

 stations have been founded, that at the present time English 

 cattle are subject to a duty, and this and the bad times have 

 greatly affected the foreign trade. The Hereford is very hardy, 

 capable of doing upon poorer fare than the Shorthorn, not 

 requiring such careful attention whilst young, and thriving in 

 exposed situations. The pasture lands of the old red sandstone 

 suit them well ; here they rear their produce, but are not, as a 

 rule, large milkers ; perhaps the tendency to make beef is too 

 prominent to allow of large dairy produce. A well-bred heifer 

 or young cow will, on good food, fatten whilst milking, and no 

 feeding stock will pay so well as Hereford cows about five years 

 old. The great object in the district is to rear the produce and 

 bring it forward, so as to sell either as yearlings or two-year- 

 olds ; they are bought for grazing principally by the farmers of 

 the midland and eastern districts. Formerly a good trade 

 existed for working bullocks; but latterly the great value of 

 young beef has caused everything good to go that way, and it is 

 only the inferior lots, and very few of them, that go into harness. 

 The Hereford is a hardy healthy animal, with many valuable 

 qualities. 



