l6o SHORTHORNS OR DURHAMS. 



ley in Ohio, and acting through an agent who was supplied with almost 

 unlimited funds. The first introduction of the celebrated Duchess strain 

 was made about 1840, by a Mr. Vail of Troy, N. Y. , who secured a bull 

 and a heifer direct from the herd of Thomas Bates. Among the earlier 

 noted breeders in America, we may mention Samuel Thorne, of Thome- 

 dale, N. Y., and R. J. Alexander, of Kentucky the latter a Scotch noble- 

 man, who purchased the Woodburn estate of 3,000 acres, and used his 

 annual income of $80,000 to establish and maintain a model American 

 herd of Shorthorns. 



DESCRIPTION AND CHARACTERISTICS. 



Widely varying in color, we find almost all markings except black, 

 brown and brindled; in some families pure, deep cherry red, in others 

 snowy white, and between these two extremes are red and white in all 

 grades as to size and arrangement of spots red roan, white roan, roan 

 and white, and speckled or "turkey" roan. In size the Shorthorn ranks 

 among the largest of known breeds, bulls of mature age ranging from 

 1,900 to 2,30olbs. ? and cows from 1,200 to 1,600 Ibs., with occasional 

 individuals considerably exceeding these figures. The general form is 

 square with well-filled points, straight back, keeping the line even and 

 well up at the rump; quarters deep and full, but not bulging; ribs well 

 sprung, giving a wide back and rounded barrel ; muzzle clear orange yel- 

 low (in some families, light drab); wide open nostrils, and rather thin- 

 fleshed lips ; eyes clear, bright and surrounded by rings of orange col- 

 ored flesh ; horns clear or cream-flecked, short and usually curving in- 

 ward; ears thin and delicate, showing clear orange wax; neck short and 

 fine in the cow in the bull heavy, and rising with age; back level; loin 

 full; buttocks wide apart; tail small just above the brush; brisket wide 

 and full; and legs close, fine boned and well-proportioned to size of 

 body. 



The Shorthorns are emphatically general purpose animals, although 

 perhaps, the majority of breeders persist in classing them with the purely 

 beef breeds. When selected and bred for milk, they are exceedingly 

 valuable as dairy stock, but it must be admitted that the general tend- 

 ency to breed and feed for show has greatly increased their beef capacity 

 at the expense of milking qualities. In some of the strains or families 

 as notably the Princess and Duchess strains the dairy features have 

 been carefully preserved, and even among the most pronounced beef 

 families, an occasional excellent dairy cow will be found. 



The American Shcrthorn Breeders' Association (J. H. Pickrell, of 

 Chicago, secretary) has never adopted any standard Scale of Points for 

 the animal. Their adaptability seems not so great as that of some other 

 breeds; they find their most congenial home and give best returns for 

 investment in latitudes of the more central and northern United States. 



