BREEDS OF BEEF CATTLE 265 



Though among the first breeds to be introduced, Herefords were 

 little known in the United States until the opening of the range 

 country. The impetus which this gave the cattle trade brought them, 

 into prominence, and, beginning about the year 1880, a rapid 

 growth has put the white faces second in point of numbers in this 

 country and almost supreme on the range. 



ABERDEEN- ANGUS 



Examining an Angus bull for the first time, we shall notice 

 first his black color. He is all black, the only white allowed being 

 a little on the underline behind theliavel. Some white on the udder 

 is not objectionable, as it is thought to be usually present with the 

 best milkers, but white is not wanted on the cod. Occasionally red 

 calves are dropped, showing a tendency to revert to the animals of 

 the eighteenth century, when mixed colors were comparatively com- 

 mon. Having observed the color, we note an entire absence of horns. 

 Not even scurs are allowed. 



Going more into detail, note next the form. This presents a 

 considerable variation from the ones previously discussed, and is 

 very typical of the breed. While the requirements of a first-class 

 beef animal demand a rounded form, here we find this carried to an 

 extreme, and the barrel shape is a characteristic that the Angus 

 claims peculiar to itself. Viewed from any direction, this marked 

 rotundity is prominent ; and one notices, too, how low-set the animal 

 is, his great style, quality, compactness, and symmetry. In the 

 feeder we find all the indications of a good beef-making machine and 

 in the finished animal every requirement of a market topper. We 

 see short legs, and neat, fine bone, and most particularly the wonder- 

 ful smoothness which even the most extreme forcing is hardly able 

 to mar. 



The head is very characteristic. Short, wide, clean cut, with a 

 muzzle whose capacious mouth and large nostrils denote excellent 

 feeding qualities and strong powers of constitution ; surmounted with 

 a tufted poll that is sharp and higher in the female than in the male. 



Note the tremendous width of chest, with legs set well outside 

 the body, the spring of rib, the deep heavy flesh. Observe the com- 

 pactness, how closely the ribs are joined to the hind quarters. In 

 the hind quarters we fail to find the hook bones. They are there, 

 but so well concealed by smooth flesh that frequently the most care- 

 ful handling fails to locate them. Here we find still other Angus 

 characteristics. The tail is set a little farther forward than in the 

 Shorthorn. The buttocks are more rounded, 'but the quarter carries 

 a large amount of flesh well down to the hocks. 



Individuals of this breed do not attain the great weights of the 

 Shorthorns, mature bulls rarely weighing over 2,200 pounds, and 

 cows averaging perhaps 1,600 pounds in show condition. But early 

 maturity enables them to attain marketable weights in an extremely 

 short time. Angus bulls are strongly prepotent, getting calves of 

 great uniformity, from 75 to 90 per cent of which from horned 

 cows are polled. 



