THE UNITED KINGDOM. 113 



As to their milking qualities, says a tenant farmer, no doubt breeders 

 have neglected them almost entirely, as it is the usual custom to rear 

 the calves on the cows, and beef, not dairy produce, is, as a rule, the 

 end aimed at. This is, however, true in a great degree of other breeds 

 when the best tribes are kept for breeding purposes, and it is a question 

 whether a Hereford does not give as much milk, and perhaps even of a 

 richer quality, than the crack tribes of other breeds, excepting thoss 

 bred especially for milking purposes. There are few Hereford dairies 

 kept, but from my own experience I believe, by selection, that a grand 

 milking herd could soon be established. No one will, who has tried 

 the experiment, agree to the statement that the Herefords do not cross 

 well with other breeds. The Americans have found it out, and now as- 

 sert that they can sell their Hereford grade steers for more money than 

 those of other crosses. It may be true that they have not been very ex- 

 tensively tried, but the experiments that have been tried will soon u get 

 wind"; in fact they have already, and the demand is entirely increasing 

 in consequence. 



One great proof of the Hereford being a pure and distinct race is that, 

 although crossed with whatever breed may be desired, the true Here- 

 ford marking is sure to show itself; and if an animal has only a quarter 

 strain of blood, the Hereford marking is still there. The great object 

 in America now is to improve the cattle as beef producers, ana to put 

 the good roasting pieces on the narrow-chined, bad-backed cattle of the 

 plains; this they believe, and rightly too, the cross with the Hereford 

 will do. Another great point in favor of the cross is the power of the 

 Hereford to endure knocking about and rough usage better than more 

 delicate cattle, and this is of the very greatest importance when consid- 

 ering the vast distances the cattle have to travel through America, and 

 by sea, before they reach this country as beef. 



A recent purchaser of a large herd of Herefords in this country writes 

 that they had a very rough passage out, and the hatches had to be all 

 battened down, but he had no losses, and all arrived in capital condi- 

 tion, none the worse for their knocking about. He could only account 

 for this from the fact that this breed of cattle could stand such usage 

 better than others or he should have had serious loss. As to their not 

 feeding so well in stalls or attaining such great weights there is proof 

 from many trials, and from Smithfield statistics, that they are little be- 

 hind, if not equal to any other known breed of cattle. 



Says another authority : 



The Shorthorn has no quality superior to that which the Hereford possesses ; if ife 

 has, let it be fairly shown. Take each point in order : Both breeds have been well 

 tried, both as graziers and feeders. It is acknowledged that the Hereford is the best 

 grazer, aud it is asserted in this country and America that four Herefords can be fed 

 on the same meat as three Shorthorns. There is evidence to show that the milking 

 quality of the Hereford is as good as the high-class Shorthorn, and their milk is 

 much richer. The London market bears testimony to the superiority of the Hereford 

 meat by always quoting it in advance of the Shorthorn. Their early maturity and 

 weight for age has been tested again and again, and there is little difference in either 

 breed. The merit of the Hereford for crossing purposes has been disputed, but now 

 it is an indisputable fact that they are fast gaining ground in the good opinion of 

 grazers. A great many bulls are now sold to dairy farmers to cross with their Short- 

 horn cows, as they say they can got their calves ready so much more quickly for the 

 butcher, and if kept on for bullocks they beat the ordinary run of Shorthorns in apti- 

 tude to fatten and in quality. To mention a few instances: Eight Hereford grade 

 steers were put up to feed, and sixty Shorthorn grades were picked out of a six hun- 

 dred lot, and then the best of the eight and the best of the sixty were killed as a beef 

 test. A large cattle-breeder used nothing but Shorthorn bulls to three hundred cows, 

 and could only make some 3 or 4 of his grade yearling bulls. The same man now, 

 by using Hereford bulls to the same cows, has sold his yearling bulls at 15 each, 

 H. Ex. 51 8 



