Vol. XVIII, Second Series. 



ROCHESTER, N. Y., NOVEMBER, 1857. 



No. 11. 



THE.B/iriSH BREEDS OF ICATTLE.J 



The most distingaishing characteristic in all ani- 

 mals is the head, and we have thought that correct 

 portraits of some of the more prominent breeds of 

 British cattle would not be without interest to our 

 readers. 



West Highland. — Any one who has visited 

 Smiihtield Market, must have been struck with the 

 number and excellence of the West Highland or 

 Kyloes cattle. Tlieir beef is of fair quality, and 

 commands a higher price per pound than that of any 

 other breed. They are well adapted to the pecu- 

 liar climate and herbage of the Highlands. They 

 are somewhat slow in arriving at maturity, but are 

 contented with the coarsest pasturage, and will ulti- 

 mately fatten where the daintier Durham would bare- 

 ly subsist. The cows yield a rich milk, but give lit- 



WEST HIGHLAND. 



tie of it, and soon go dry. Their skin i-i thick but 

 mellow, and closely covered with shaggy hair. They 

 are exceedingly hardy, and would probably prove a 

 useful breed in the hill districts of the Northern and 

 Eastern States. We are not aware that this breed 

 has been imported either into this country or Canada. 

 (talt.oways. — Closely allied to the West Highland 

 or Kyloe is the Galloway breed. He is in fact, a 

 lar^e Kyloe without horns. He is more docile, with 

 a greater aptitude to fatten when once his frame is 

 matured, and he is a special favorite with graziers 

 and butchers, from the fact that the parts of his car- 

 cass used for roasting, are largely developed. In 

 rich pastures, he cannot compete with the Short-horn 

 for early maturity or fattening properties; and for 

 the dairy he has been supplanted in his native dis- 

 trict by the Ayrshires; but in those districts where 

 the rearing of grazing cattle is found the more suit- 



able practice, the Galloways still reign unrivalled. 

 They are not quite so hardy as the West Highland, 

 but much more so than the Short-horn, Hereford, 

 Ayrshire, or the Devon. They are good handleis, 

 but are covered with long, black, shaggy hair, and 



galloways. 

 their hides would make superior substitutes for buffa- 

 lo robes. They have been imported into Canada, 

 and will no doubt prove an acquisition. They 

 should be kept as a distinct breed. 

 ^Ayrshires. — The peculiar function of this breed 

 is the dairy, for which, on medium soils, it cannot be 

 surpassed. P'or this purpose it is worthy of more 

 extensive introduction into the dairy districts of this 

 country. The Ayrshire has little aptitude to fatten, 



ayrshires, 

 and the beef is rather coarse. A cross with th« 

 Short- horn, however, makes a useful grazing animal 

 In the west of Scotland this cross is resorted to on a 

 large scale, with great success. 



Alderney or Jersey. — In appearance this breed 

 somewhat resembles the Ayrshire, and it is conjee- 

 tured that the latter are indebted to it for their milk- 

 producing qualities. The chief difference between 

 them is, that the forte of the Ayrshires lies in th« 

 abundance of their milk; that of the Alderneys in 



