138 BREEDS OF CATTLE 



Lincoln Red is larger ; it is stronger boned, and perhaps rather 

 less well sprung in the rib. Red, as the name implies, is the only 

 recognized colour; though animals with some little white 

 markings and even roans appear from time to time among stock 

 that have been registered for several generations in the Lincoln 

 book. The type is also rather different and not so specific in 

 character. Lincoln Red breeders require a character in the bulls 

 which I have heard them describe as "sour," whereas the 

 "Shorthorn man" would be shocked and pained at his stock 

 being so described. The "sour" animals are less fine about the 

 head, of which the lines are less finely chiselled; there is slightly 

 more skin at the throat and the whole of this part of the body 

 has a more massive appearance. Such a head coupled with a 

 body carrying more bone especially above the hock and below 

 the knee, all belonging to a very large animal, briefly constitute 

 the ideal of the breeder who is not frankly trying to reproduce 

 the Coates's Herd Book type. 



The Lincoln Red can also be divided into two groups beef 

 and dual-purpose cattle. Among the latter are to be found some 

 very deep -milkers indeed. They have the reputation of being 

 very hardy cattle and of thriving on coarse fodder and pasture. 

 In my own experience of the breed I have always thought that 

 they were cattle requiring a great deal of food, but that their 

 digestions and appetites enabled them to be less particular than 

 some others as regards quality of provender. They are, when 

 forced, quite up to the average among breeds celebrated for 

 early maturity; on the other hand, if not exceptionally well done, 

 they lack quality, and so are seldom slaughtered as baby-beef. 

 Some graziers and winter feeders proclaim the Lincoln Red 

 to be the best bullock for the farmer, though the evidence to 

 uphold this claim has hitherto escaped my notice. The butcher's 

 objection to their excess of bone has, on the other hand, seemed 

 to me very clear in the case of many specimens I have observed 

 being sold on public markets. 



