SELECTING THE BREED 73 



date back as far as 1783. The climax of the Short- 

 horn "boom" came in 1873, when 109 head were sold 

 at auction in three hours for $380,000. One cow at 

 this time sold for $40,600. 



The aim of most breeders of Shorthorns has been 

 to secure early maturity, size, form and beef produc- 

 ing qualities. "All is useless that is not beef" is 

 the motto generally followed. The Shorthorn is a 

 beef breed and has been so for many generations, 

 but there have always been good dairy cows among 

 them, and in England especially strains and families 

 have been kept somewhat distinct and known as 

 milking Shorthorns. A few breeders in the United 

 States have followed this example and enough were 

 found in 1893 to make up a herd which entered the 

 famous dairy-cow test at the Columbian Exposition, 

 and there made a most creditable record. Although 

 they can hardly claim to belong to the class of 

 special dairy breeds, they are entitled to recognition 

 in these pages. In point of size the Shorthorns are 

 probably the largest among pure breeds of cattle. 

 The weight of the cows ranges from 1,200 to 1,600 

 pounds and the bulls from 2,000 to 3,000. The 

 colors of the breed have always been various blend- 

 ings of red and white. In the best milking types the 

 cows are rough and angular in outline, with large, 

 hairy udders and good-sized, straight teats well 

 placed. The animals are quiet and kind in disposi- 

 tion. 



The Shorthorns when first brought to America 

 received the name of "the milk breed, "and even now 

 the breed has inherent dairy qualities which careful 



