BREEDS 149 



have a superiority over all others in this respect, they might, 

 with their possibilities for milk-production, be of- use in future 

 breeding for general improvement. 



Welsh Black Cattle. 



Some 20 years ago there were jtwo distinct types of black 

 cattle in Wales; the North Welsh and the South Welsh, each 

 with its own Herd Book. For some reason the Breed Societies 

 of the two varieties amalgamated in 1904, and we now have but 

 one Herd Book. 



The marked difference of the two sorts is still to be seen in 

 the markets, the Southern type being stronger in the bone, less 

 well sprung in the rib, and longer in the leg. The horn of this 

 type is often very dark indeed, and this was frequently looked 

 upon as a danger-signal when buying store cattle to grow on 

 into beef. The South Welsh cow was regarded as the better 

 milker and was held in high respect for the constitution which 

 enabled her to fill a moderate-sized pail under most adverse 

 conditions of climate and keep; but when it came to buying 

 the steers to which she had given birth, admiration ceased. 

 Slow-growing and thin-fleshed, these steers would live on 

 barley-straw in the open throughout a hard winter, and finish 

 on moderate grass in the spring or summer at the age of three 

 or four years ; it was very ungrateful work trying to force them 

 to better things on superior food. They had a strong objection 

 to any kind of close confinement in the winter, and did better 

 in a large, open yard with a little hay and plenty of straw than 

 when confined in a stall on the most abundant and nourishing 

 ration. Their chief virtue was their ability to stand the most 

 trying conditions of climate combined with the privations of 

 rough forage. 



The North Wales cattle, though the cows were not considered 

 to milk as well, bred the famous store cattle known as Runts. 

 These were held in very high esteem by all graziers feeding 

 stock for beef on good pasture ; and especially by those wanting 

 cattle to graze the fertile but exposed marsh pasture-land on the 

 east coast qf England. The Runt was a moderately well-shaped 

 butcher's beast, a little coarse at the rumps, not particularly 



