45 



A very similar class of animal now prevails in Ireland. A 

 hundred years ago, the Longhorn, introduced from Lancashire and 

 other parts of England, predominated and for a long time held its 

 own; but gradually the continued importation of Shorthorn bulls 

 produced its effect. In more recent times, the Royal Dublin 

 Society and the Irish Department of Agriculture have paid much 

 attention to the improvement of the cattle of the country, and 

 their efforts have largely taken the form of encouraging the use of 

 good Shorthorn bulls. Large numbers of Irish Shorthorns are 

 sent over every year as stores to the fattening districts of England 

 and Scotland. 



THE LINCOLNSHIRE RED SHORTHORN. 



The preface to the Herd Book states that this variety of the 

 Shorthorn is distinguished by its length of frame, good constitution, 

 great hardiness, capacity for milk, and weight of carcase. 



It may be regarded as a strain of Shorthorns which has been 

 selected for milk production and for colour, and escaped the 

 excessive in-and-in breeding so prevalent among Shorthorns during 

 the nineteenth century. In other respects Lincoln Reds are in no 

 way different from the ordinary Shorthorn, and the Lincolnshire 

 Red Shorthorn Association allow a red Coates's Herd Book bull to 

 be used, and admit the produce into their Herd Book. 



Thomas Turnell, who, about the end of the eighteenth century, 

 founded a famous herd of cattle near Wragby, is believed to have 

 introduced and fixed the deep cherry red colour of hair for which 

 the breed is now noted and which enhances its value for exportation, 

 especially to hot countries. The separate Association and Herd 

 Book were instituted in 1895. 



Lincolnshire Red Shorthorn cows have during recent years 

 occupied prominent positions in the Milk and Butter competitions 

 at most of the leading English and Irish Dairy shows, and the 

 breed is growing in popularity at home and abroad. 



The Association has not up to the present instituted an official 

 scheme for the keeping of milk records, but some of the leading 

 breeders keep private records. The results obtained in one or two 

 herds may be quoted, though it is necessary to bear in mind the 

 fact that it would be quite unfair to compare the results in selected 

 herds of one breed with general averages of another. 



Burton Herd of Lincoln Red Shorthorns Milk Records, 1906-10.. 



