THE - UNITED KINGDOM. 141 



It is claimed, says James Macdonald, that the northern Polls surpass all other races 

 ofccattle in the production of beef. On that point there is, of course, considerable 

 difference of opinion, for at the present day, when the beef-producing properties of 

 our other leading breeds, notably the Shorthorn and Hereford, have been developed 

 to so high a degree, it could not be expected that, with anything like unanimity, any 

 one breed would bo accorded the premier position. Be that as it may, the Polled 

 Aberdeen or Angus breed may, perhaps, be said to be inferior to none as all-round beef- 

 cattle, and superior to all others in some respects. The brilliant and unequaled 

 position it has latterly taken, alike in the show yard and market place, sufficiently 

 establishes its claim to that description. It may be noted that at the Paris Exhibi- 

 tion in 1878 it carried off every single honor for which it was entitled to compete, in- 

 cluding the 100 prize for the best group of beef producing cattle in the exhibition, and 

 that in British show yards, both as fat stock and breeding, it has attained to a lead- 

 ing position. In a strictly butcher's point of view, it has seldom to yield to any other 

 race of cattle. The superiority over most other breeds, for the butcher's purpose, lies 

 mainly in the excellent quality of beef, and in the high percentage of dead meat to 

 live weight. As a rule, the beef of the northern Polls is very well mixed, and contains a 

 greater proportion of compact, finely-grained flesh, and less soft, coarse, fat than most 

 other kinds of beef. Inside, the carcass is usually well lined with fat of the finest 

 quality, whilo in the density and quality of the- carcass itself the breed may fairly 

 enough claim the premier position among all our leading breeds of cattle. Some place 

 the small Devon breed alongside, if not even before it, in this respect; but with that 

 exception, probably, no other breed in the British isles will, on an average, yield so 

 high a percentage of dead meat to live weight. In butcher's phraseology it "dies" 

 well and "cuts up" admirably. In all the leading fat-stock markets in the coun- 

 try the breed is held in high estimation, and generally commands the highest prices, 

 in fact, usually a higher price in comparison to its size and live weight than any of 

 the other leading breeds. This is especially the case at the great Smithfield Christ- 

 mas market in London, where the plump compact Polls from the north never fail to 

 find a ready sale at the highest quotations. 



The Aberdeen Poll is not a milking breed, being especially cultivated for beef, and 

 it has been found impossible to obtain figures with any degree of accuracy showing 

 the quantity of milk given per cow, or the butter and cheese value of the milk. We 

 cannot indeed hear of a single case in which a more than ordinary dairy is composed 

 of this race. With regard to size and weight for age, a few figures from the last 

 Smithfield show will be found a sufficient guide. The first-prize steer at tho ago of 

 two years ten months weighed 16 cwt., and second-prize at same age 16 cwt. Tho 

 first-prize steer at three years eight months weighed 21 cwt., and the second, at three 

 years six months, l$$ cwt. The first-prizo heifer at two years eight months was 17| 

 cwt. The Birmingham show figures were as follows : The first-prize Polled steer at 

 the age of three years eight months weighed 18 cwt., and the second-prize at tho 

 same age 20 cwt. The first-prize heifer, also of the same age, weighed 16| cwt., and 

 the second, two years eleven and three-fourths months, 15J cwt. 



This race is perhaps the best of all others for crossing with the Shorthorn ; indeed, 

 the most marvelous specimens of cross-breds shown at the London and Birmingham 

 shows are always of this cross. At tho latter place the first prize steer, aged three 

 years seven months, weighed 18 cwt. The first prize steer, aged two years eleven 

 months, was 17 cwt. ; and tho second prize, two years eight months, 17 cwt. The 

 first prize steer at two years five months weighed 14 cwt., and the second at on 

 year eight months gave the marvelous weight of 16^ cwt. At the London show 

 one of the prize cross-bred steers at twenty months weighed 13 cwt. Tho first prize 

 steer at two and three-quarters years weighed 17, and the second prize at two years 

 eight mouths, 17 cwt. Another first prize at three years eight and theee-quarter months 

 weighed 19f cwt. The first prize heifer at three years eight mouths, 17f cwt. The 

 district in which the race is bred and fed, although "not the bleakest in Scotland, is still 

 much exposed ; and tho pasture is certainly not the best, but what is missing in the 

 field is made up in the manger, for tho northern farmers find it to their advantage to 

 feed their cattle well, and especially upon cake. The race is not used for draft pur- 

 poses." 



Mr. G. WilkeD, says: 



With regard to the annual average pounds of milk which the cows give, and tho 

 quantity necessary for the production of butter and cheese, no such records are kept 

 iu Scotland. Tho breed is a beef-producing one, and has been so for many years. 

 There have been noted instances of good milkers in the Aberdeen-Angus breed, but 

 for many years Aberdeen and Angus have been feeding districts. Tho late Earl of 

 Avilie, of Cortachy Castle, gave particulars of a newly calved Aberdeen-Angus cow, 

 which gave 14 Scotch pints of milk per day ; ami of another, three months after calv- 

 ing, which gave 12 Scotch pints. A Scotch pint is equal to three English pints, BO 



