114: DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 



horn breeders, — of the Booth^j, the Bates, the Wileys, the Hoppers, and 

 a score more of short-horn patrons, have caused a healthy emulation, 

 and the difference between the Hereford cattle now exhibited, and those 

 shown some ten or twelve years af>"o, shows not only that these breeders 

 have judgment and skill, but it must also be confessed, that the breed 

 have fattening capabilities. The old Hereford was a deep-brown ani- 

 mal, sometimes with an ochery cast, free from white, like the Devons; 

 but an improved breed now possess the county, in which the invariable 

 fashion is a dark red, with a white face, white belly, and not unfrequent- 

 ly a white back. The skin is thicker and less mellow than that of the 

 short-horn, nor has the hair the mossy softness or graceful curl of the 

 latter. The eye is full and lively, the chest deep and broad, the loin 

 also broad, and the hips w^ell-expanded ; a level broad rump, a round 

 barrel, and full crop, full, deep flank, well-ribbed home; small bones, 

 clean and perpendicular thighs, belly almost parallel with back, head 

 small. Indeed, color and symmetry are perhaps the predominant qual- 

 ifications which secure the high favor of the breeder. 



From the above description it will be seen that the Hereford, possess- 

 ing many essentials in form, is destitute of the quality producing early 

 maturity and speed}'' disposition to fatten. He lays on his flesh, soft 

 and mottled, on the best parts ; he has full sirloins, rumps, and crop, 

 but he shows his beef on the outside ; and he requires much more time 

 to develop his qualities than the short-horn. In milking qualities the 

 cow is even behind the ox in feedino- and it must in o-eneral be three 

 and a half to four years old before it can be fatted with any very marked 

 success. They require a rich pasture, though a hardy animal, and the 

 average weight when fat does not exceed eight to ten hundred pounds. 

 Herefordshire being more a breeding than a feeding county, the cattle 

 are reared there, and sold off at three years old to graze in the counties 

 of Leicester, Northampton, and the rich grass districts; but, with all its 

 good qualities, it must be admitted that it requires from ten to twelve 

 months more to feed than its more favored compeer, the short-horn. 

 We give a sketch of first-rate specimens. Much controversy has gone 

 on lately as to the merits of the two breeds — the short-horn and the 

 Hereford ; but it must be conceded, that vvhile the short-horn is pene- 

 trating into the heart of Scotland, into the south of England, and into 

 the county of Gloucester, on the one hand, and into iS"orfolk on the 

 other, the Hereford is hardly keeping his ground, he is making no in- 

 roads into any one important new grazing district ; and unless the 

 gitrantic efforts now made to amend the characteristics of the breed 

 effect something more, they will dwindle still further away. 



The West Ilighland Scot.— Xext to the Hereford in the ranks of fatten- 

 ing animals, we place this breed of cattle ; and they well deserve it, — 

 for they will fatten in places and on food on which both the short-horn 

 and the Hereford, too, would perish. This West Highland breed is 

 somewhat wild in its nature, and will not bear the least confinement, 

 tying, or control. It is eminently gregarious, and if kept alone will 

 generally fret and pine. The peculiarity of the breed is, that it is a 

 small animal, generally deep jet-black, pale red, or dun, seldom any 

 white spots on any part of the body ; its horns are long, and turned 



