53 



THE SOUTH DEVON. 



The South Devon is a dual-purpose breed ; see p. 59. 



THE SUSSEX. 



The Sussex breed, reared on the Wealden clays and marshland of 

 Sussex, Kent and Surrey, is purely a beef producer and is one of the 

 largest and heaviest of British breeds. Sussex cattle are deep red 

 in colour, and in addition to their size and weight, are remarkable 

 for quality of beef, fineness of hide, hardiness and ability to 

 thrive and do well under unfavourable conditions of food, soil 

 and climate. 



Value for 13 eef Production and Draught Purposes. The bullocks 

 were formerly used to a great extent for draught purposes on the 

 heavy soils of their native and adjoining counties and for this 

 purpose they were probably unequalled. A famous ox from 

 Burton Park, Petworth, was recorded to be 16^ hands high, to 

 have a girth behind the shoulders of 10 feet, and to weigh 

 287 stones 4 Ib. With the decline of the practice of using oxen 

 for draught purposes and particularly since the formation of the 

 Herd Book in 1874, attention has been fixed solely on the 

 development of the beef producing powers of the breed. As a 

 result greater symmetry, depth of flesh, and early maturity have 

 been secured, and the Sussex now stands in the front rank as a 

 hardy beef producing animal. 



Sussex cattle have been exported to America and South Africa, 

 and have proved themselves to be especially adapted to the 

 requirements of districts in the latter country where the mortality 

 among stock is exceptionally severe. When the bulls are crossed 

 with native cows the calves almost invariably have the red colour 

 of the Sussex parent, a fact which greatly contributes to the 

 popularity of the breed. 



SUSSEX CLASSES AT THE SMITHFIELD SHOW, 1902-1911. 

 (a) Average Ages, Live Weights and Daily Increases. 



3 years. 

 III. Heifers not above 3 years 51 



2 9 11 14 79 



1-62 



