DIFFERENT BREEDS OF OXEN. Ill 



as it now is. They possessed a fine mellow skin and flesh, good 

 hair, light offal, very wide carcases, and very deep and large 

 fore- quarters. No doubt the judicious and careful breeders who 

 dwelt on the banks of the river Tees crossed the original short- 

 horns with other breeds, and it is very possible that one of these 

 was the white wild breed. 



A great many persons might be mentioned as having been 

 connected with the breeding of shorthorns ; but we may merely 

 refer to Mr. George Coates, the author of The Shorthorn Herd 

 Book. This gentleman was very highly successful, but he cer- 

 tainly made one mistake in not liking to cross his own stock 

 with that of other breeders. 



One of the chief characteristics of the shorthorns is that they 

 arrive at maturity at an early age. Their capability of con- 

 tinuing their growth has excited the wonder and approval of all 

 who have had to do with them. Not only are they fairly good 

 in regard to milk supply, but they also possess the power of 

 fattening rapidly. Indeed, the latter capacity is so marked, and 

 the improvement in the carcase of the shorthorn has been so 

 surprising, that many persons have allowed that point to occupy 

 their entire attention, and hence the supply of milk having been 

 neglected has fallen off in consequence. Nevertheless, there are 

 to be met with, improved shorthorns, i.e. shorthorns which have 

 been very carefully bred, which are not only very suitable for 

 grazing purposes, but also possessed of most valuable dairy 

 properties. Some of the best-bred shorthorn cows may yield 

 upwards of four gallons of milk night and morning, and may 

 give even as much as 20 lbs. of butter per week. 



Many excellent beasts have been bred from improved short- 

 horn bulls and longhorn cows, especially those of Devon. A 

 friend of Mr. C. H. Bolton bred with shorthorn bulls from 

 about a dozen North Devon cows of small size but nice quality, 

 and the consequence was that all his stock were good milkers. 

 It is said that occasionally shorthorn bulls may be moderately 

 worked with advantage ; but, as a rule, shorthorns, which are 

 as profitably consigned to the butcher at two years old as other 

 kinds of cattle at four, ought not to be placed in the yoke. 



The shorthorns are now very carefully looked after, and they 

 are more particularly bred in the northern counties and in 

 Lincolnshire. It may, in fact, be said that they are the best 



