THE SHORTHORN 



229 



The color of the Shorthorn is in part distinctive of the breed. 

 This may be pure red, red and white, pure white, or roan, the 

 latter being a commingling of red and white hairs without form- 

 ing a solid color. The shades vary the red ranging from light to 

 dark, and the roan from light or white roan to dark or red roan. 

 No other breed claims the roan color. Black is not a Shorthorn 

 color and should not occur in pure-bred animals. The skin color 

 may properly be mentioned in this connection. This should be 

 of a very light yellow or creamy tint, as shown in the ears and 

 about the armpits and udder, or scrotum. The bare skin on the 

 nose should be " flesh color" and not a dark slate, such as some- 

 times occurs. A smutty nose is an off Shorthorn color and is 

 distinctly objected to by breeders in general. 



The relative percentage of Shorthorn colors has attracted more 

 or less attention. Years ago the author instituted a study of the 

 herdbooks, with the view of ascertaining the prevalence of the 

 different Shorthorn colors. For this purpose 10,000 head regis- 

 tered in the herdbooks from 1859 to 1903 were classified, and 

 color comparison made. In 1917 my associate, Professor S. M. 

 Salisbury, computed the colors of 24,000 animals registered from 

 1910 to 1914 inclusive. The figures thus obtained, covering 

 34,000 head, may be expressed as follows : 



PREVALENCE OF COLORS IN SHORTHORN HERDBOOKS 



These figures show red much the more prevalent and increasing 

 with the years, a marked dropping off in red and white, no special 

 change in roan, and a slight loss in white. The importance of 

 color varies in the estimation of different persons, but color is no 

 index to quality. Some have thought dark color indicates hardi- 

 ness and that white is associated with possible lack of vigor or 



