SHORTHORNS. 109' 



against 211 Herefords and 357 Devons ; and, for the ten years 

 succeeding, i.e., up to 1871, the numbers exhibited have been 

 1476 Shorthorns, 574 Herefords, 472 Devons. At the leading 

 markets and fairs (except, perhaps, in the south-west) Shorthorns 

 everywhere comprise the majority of the cattle shown ; and it 

 is estimated that there are more Shorthorns bred, fed, and 

 grazed in England than all other breeds put together. 



The great milking properties of this breed have made the 

 cattle equally serviceable to dairymen and graziers ; indeed, 

 a recent company in London was started under the name of the 

 Royal Shorthorn Dairy Company. Years ago it was customary 

 for droves of the ordinary unimproved Shorthorns to be driven 

 on foot from the north to the south of England. Farmers 

 would meet the droves on the road and buy the best animals ; 

 and, in this way, many capital stocks were early established in 

 the midland and southern counties. Of late years complaints 

 have been frequently made that Shorthorns are not good 

 milkers. This may possibly have been correct in some instances, 

 but it has arisen, not from inherent inability, but from the 

 pernicious effects of forcing young animals into a condition of 

 premature fatness. There are, however, always to be found 

 animals of all strains of Shorthorn blood, which are capable, 

 not only of making their own calves fat, but of giving several 

 quarts of milk daily in addition ; and of sustaining such high 

 condition, all the while, as enables them to compete successfully 

 in our leading show-yards. And, at a recent conference on 

 dairy matters, held by the British Dairy Association, a paper 

 was read by an experienced owner of a dairy for town use, who 

 bore witness that nothing had made a better return, to a milk- 

 seller, than his pedigree Shorthorns. 



The greatest record of the Shorthorn, however, still is its 

 marvellous efficacy in crossing and improving other breeds. In 

 Scotland many of the native black herds have been crossed 

 generation after generation ; and the produce is accepted as the 

 very best beef which comes to London. In Wales, the " coloury 

 beast " (as the Shorthorn is called) has gradually worked upon 

 the Castlemartins and runts until it outnumbers them; and 

 " pure-bred " herds are to be found in the south, as well as the 

 north of the Principality. The marvellous improvement in the 



