CATTLE HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION OF BREEDS. 769 



because they have filled an important place in the cattle-raising 

 of the plains, and even been brought in large numbers to our 

 Eastern markets. These cattle probably originated from stock 

 imported into Mexico from Spain, as early as 1525. A modern 

 traveler describes the cattle of Spain as follows : <; They are of 

 small size, with large, coarse, long, and wide-spreading horns, 

 mostly with a half or full twist to them, and set back rather 

 than forward, with the point outward. Their colors are black, 

 dark-brown, reddish-brown, light yellowish-red, with some white 

 on throat and belly, and occasionally a black and white roan, or 

 gray. The cows are nearly as large as the oxen, with the same 

 style of horn. The head is long and rather fine. They do not 

 appear to be good milkers." 



This description is so nearly that of the Texan cattle as to 

 clearly show them to be of the same stock, and the similarity is 

 the more striking, when we remember that the Spanish cattle are 

 thoroughly domesticated and treated with care in a country of 

 dense population and close husbandry, while the Texas cattle 

 are descendants of stock which had run wild for many generations. 



These cattle, as found on the plains of the West, are tall, 

 lank, and bony, with coarse heads and enormous horns, legs long 

 and coarse ; they have much dewlap, and little brisket, flat sides, 

 somewhat sway-backed, high in the flank, with narrow hips and 

 quarters, and with a large proportion of offal. They mature 

 slowly, and are usually not marketed till from five to seven 

 years old. The cows are poor milkers, and only continue in milk 

 long enough to rear a calf. While these cattle were well-suited 

 in many of their characteristics to the system of management 

 of a former generation, they are destined to extinction under a 

 better system of farming, and will be superseded by larger and 

 finer cattle that mature much earlier. This improvement is now 

 going on rapidly by crossing with the improved breeds, and in a 

 few generations the wild, lonjr-horned Texan will be modified, 

 until in form, color, and valuable qualities, it will resemble the 

 Short-horn, Hereford, or polled Angus. 



49 



