No. 3. 



The West Highland Bull. 



89 



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THE KYLOE, OR WEST HIGHLAND BULL. 



The origin of the term Kyloe, is obscure; it has been traced to their crossing the many 

 ferries, or Kyloes, which abound in the west of Scotland ; but be that as it may, the true 

 Kyloe breed of cattle are, by universal consent, admitted to be superior to all others what- 

 soever, for prime beef; commanding very readily, two or three cents per pound in Smith- 

 field market, over that of any other fat cattle brought thither. The chief value of the 

 Kyloe, or West Highland cattle, consists in their being hardy and easily fatted ; in that 

 they will live, and even thrive on the coarsest pastures ; that they will frequently gain 

 from a fourth to a third of their original weight, in six months feeding; that the propor- 

 tion of offal is not greater than in the most approved larger breeds; that they will lay their 

 flesh and fat equally on the best parts ; and that when fat, the beef is fine in the grain, 

 highly and deliciously flavoured, and so well mixed or marbled, that they are ready sale 

 in every market to which they are driven, either at home or abroad. 



The following description of the true Kyloe, or West Highland bull, is by Malcolm 

 M'Neil, of the island of Islay, from whence alone, about 4000 of these cattle are annually 

 exported. " He should be black, the head not large, the ears thin, the muzzle fine, and 

 rather turned up ; broad in the face, with eyes prominent, and the countenance calm and 

 placid. The horns tapering finely to a point, neither drooping too much nor rising too 

 high; of a waxy colour, and widely set on at the root. The neck fine, particularly where 

 it joins the head, and rising with a gentle curve from the shoulder; the breast wide, and 

 projecting well before the legs; the shoulders broad at the top, and the chine so full, as 

 to leave no hollow behind them ; the girth behind the shoulder deep, the back straight, 

 wide and fiat ; the ribs broad, with the space between them and the hips small ; the belly 

 not sinking low in the middle, yet on the whole, not forming the barrel-like carcass which 

 some have described : the thigh, tapering to the hock joint; the bones larger in proportion 

 to the size of the animal, than in the breeds of the southern districts. The tail on a level 

 with the back ; the legs short and straight, and the whole carcass covered with a thick, 

 long coat of hair, with plenty of hair about the face and horns, but that hair not curly." 

 The Kyloe is a pure and distinct breed, and has attained its present character and su- 

 periority, by the breeders selecting, not from other districts where the size has been in- 

 creased, but by general consent, from the island of Skye, where the cattle are small, but 

 suited to the soil and climate ; where they can be most easily raised at the least expense, 

 and when removed to better keep, will thrive with a rapidity almost incredible — a maxim 

 in breeding which ought always to be borne in mind ; as extra weight can at all times be 

 attained by extra keep, which is far preferable to extra size of carcass, ill formed, proba- 

 bly, and without any proof on feeding. 



