62 



(b) Highest and Lowest Daily Increases. 



THE LONGHORN. 



Origin. The Longhorn breed of cattle belonged originally to 

 the West of England, as far south as the Severn, and extending 

 eastwards through the Midlands to Leicestershire. Until sup- 

 planted by the Shorthorn, it was the prevailing breed of Ireland, 

 where it can be traced back for over 200 years, and where the 

 animals were noted for " great development of form and size." 

 Lancashire and the Craven district of Yorkshire have been 

 generally associated with the breed, but Leicestershire shares the 

 distinction, as Robert Bakewell, of Dishley, who began his opera- 

 tions about 1750, was its most noted improver. The original 

 animal was large (though differing in size in different districts 

 according to the fertility of the soil), coarse-boned, lean-fleshed, 

 but slow in coming to maturity, with the hide thick, though 

 soft and mossy to the touch. For work on the farm, Longhorn 

 bullocks were highly esteemed ; and the cows were good at the 

 pail, but more noted for richness than abundance of milk. 

 Bake well's efforts in selection and in-and-in breeding, extending 

 over 45 years, resulted in the production of smaller, more sym- 

 metrical, and more refined animals, but at the expense of some 

 of the constitutional vigour and power of milk production. Bake- 

 well did not communicate his methods to anyone, and the secret of 

 his success died with him. 



Present Position of the Breed. In competition with the Shorthorn 

 for public favour the Longhorn was seriously worsted ; and, during 

 the early part of the latter half of the 19th century, .the breed 

 was so reduced in numbers as to be threatened with extinction. 

 This danger has passed away, as the herds belonging to the members 

 of the Longhorn Cattle Society now number 23, and there are over 

 500 registered Longhorn cattle in the country, the majority being 

 in the Midlands with Warwickshire as chief centre. The breed 

 has been developed and brought into line with modern requirements 

 in the matter of tendency to early maturity, while the hardiness 

 of constitution and power to live and thrive on coarse food have 

 been retained. The colour of the flesh has been improved, and 

 it now ranks with that of other breeds. The latent milking powers 

 are again developing, and in many of the herds deep milking strains 

 iiave been built up. 



