CHAPTER XI. 



NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK RED POLLED CATTLE. 



By THOMAS FULCHER, Elmham, Norfolk. 



N searching for data to determine the origin of this 

 breed, we have come across a book entitled " The 

 Eural Economy of Norfolk," by Mr. Marshall, 

 resident upwards of two years in Norfolk (from 

 1780 to 1782), acting, he informs us in his preface, as agent 

 to the Gunton Estate. Under the heading " Cattle " he says : 

 " The native cattle of Norfolk are a small, hardy, thriving race ; 

 fatting as freely and finishing as highly at three years old 

 as cattle in general do at four or five ; they are small-boned, 

 short-legged, round-barrelled, well-loined, thin-thighed, clean- 

 chapped ; the head in general fine, and the horns clean, middle- 

 sized, and bent upward ; the favourite colour a blood-red, with 

 a white or mottled face. The breed of Norfolk is the Here- 

 fordshire breed in miniature, except that the chine and the 

 quarter of the Norfolk breed are more frequently deficient. If 

 the London butchers are judges of beef, there are no better 

 fleshed beasts sent to London market." 



Suffolk cattle, according to the earliest records on the subject, 

 were polled, and, originally, dun in colour ; later on they are 

 described as red, red and white, and brindled. 



From a very early period large numbers of polled G-alloway 

 cattle were brought into the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk. 

 There can be little doubt that these were crossed with one or 

 other (probably both) the native races, and that thus the 

 present breed of Norfolk and Suffolk red-polled cattle was 

 called into existence. 



