THE SUSSEX BREED OF CATTLE. 141 



breeding from the smallest bone with the greatest amount of 

 flesh ; this seems to have been successful when we compare the 

 present animals with what may be called the old-fashioned sort, 

 one of which was fattened many years ago at Burton Park, near 

 Pet worth, and called the Burton ox. A portrait of this animal 

 was dedicated to the gentlemen of the county of Sussex by Mr. 

 Spilsbury, of Midhurst ; its height was 16| hands, and it 

 measured 8ft. from the back of the horns to the tail ; and from 

 hip bone to hip bone, across the back, 2ft. Sin. ; the depth of 

 shoulder, 4ft. 7in. ; girth behind the shoulder, 10ft. ; and it 

 weighed 287st. 41b. Although this was considered a wonderful 

 animal at the time, the meat was not in the right place ; its bone 

 was enormous, its back rib shallow instead of deep, with a spare 

 thigh and small twist, and it was not to compare with the class 

 of cattle now exhibited, saving in the matter of weight, which 

 has always been a great feature in the breed. The Sussex cattle 

 are second to none as regards early maturity and weight for 

 age ; this is proved by the weights of the animals shown at the 

 Smithfield Club meetings. The Sussex are great favourites with 

 the butcher and consumer. At three years old well-fed steers 

 will weigh from twelve to fourteen score pounds per quarter. 

 Their general features may be described as follows : Nose 

 tolerably wide; muzzle of a golden colour, thin between the 

 nostril and eye ; eye rather prominent ; the forehead rather 

 wide ; neck not too long ; sides straight, and not coarse at the 

 point of the shoulder; wide and open in the breast, which 

 should project forward ; girth deep ; legs not too long ; chine 

 bone straight ; ribs broad ; loin full of flesh and wide ; hip 

 bones not too large, but well covered ; rump flat and long ; tail 

 should drop perpendicular ; thigh flat outside and full in ; the 

 coat soft and silky ; with a mellow touch. 



The Sussex cross well with any breed ; by using the male 

 animal, substance and firmness of flesh are imparted, and the 

 colour of the offspring is generally red. They are of themselves 

 a hardy breed, and have been found to surpass all others in the 

 poorest pastures of their native county. The cows are not good 

 milkers ; those with the heaviest flesh are the worst, but produce 

 sufficient to rear their calf. The most successful way of breeding 

 is to calve them down in October and November, let them have 



