200 THE CATTLE OF GREAT BRITAIN. 



still yield as much butter or cheese — two articles that form an 

 important item in the rent- producing power of the Welsh 

 farmer. Capitalists holding sheltered and luxuriant pastures, 

 having extensive farm buildings, and who aim at producing 

 large, prime fat beasts, may there, as elsewhere, keep Shorthorns 

 to greater advantage than any other breeds; but persons of 

 limited means, living on poor land, and with small farmyards, 

 cannot do better, I think, than retain and cultivate the indigenous 

 breed of the country. I hold there is no middle course : either 

 blacks or Shorthorns. The Shorthorns are undoubtedly the 

 grandest cattle in existence for early maturity, size, aptitude to 

 fatten, and do well with proper care in any part of Wales, as in 

 almost every part of the globe. The arguments in favour of 

 introducing any other improved breed into the district must be 

 futile, when even the suitability of the Shorthorn, with all its 

 signal merits, is a question open to dispute. 



The character of the Pembrokeshire breed may be better 

 shown by comparison or contrast than by repeating the hack- 

 neyed phrases usually adopted to describe the ideal features 

 of all oxen — whether Shorthorns, Herefords, Devons, or Welsh. 

 The main requisites in every animal producing flesh for con- 

 sumption are depth and breadth. A mention of peculiar 

 features in virtues and failings is preferable to vague generali- 

 sation. The colour of the Pembrokeshire breed is black. The 

 horns are long and white tipped with black points, wide- 

 spreading and curving upwards. The head is of medium length, 

 longer than the West Highlands, and somewhat longer than 

 the Devons, approaching the Herefords or the improved Sussex 

 in form. The nose is small, and the neck fine, with little 

 tendency to the " throatiness " observable in some breeds. The 

 eyes are prominent, but without the untameable gleam of the 

 West Highland or Chillingham cattle, domestication having 

 removed any special traits of wildness and of ferocity. The 

 coat is long, not straight like the Highland cattle, but wavy, or 

 sometimes curly. The forehead is broad, and the tail of good 

 length. These may be said to be some of the chief character- 

 istics of the Pembrokeshire breed in contra- distinction to other 

 well-known cattle, although it does not very correctly represent 

 the type aimed at by the breeders generally. For instance, in 



