THE HEREFORD 



263 



The prepotency of the Hereford is one of its most marked fea- 

 tures. Not only is there little variation in type and color markings 

 among pure-breds but so dominant are these characteristics that 

 when pure-bred bulls are used on grade cows, the offspring appear 

 in many instances like pure-breds. So prepotent is the Hereford 

 that his smooth shoulder and thin thigh are commonly transmitted 

 into the grade herd. 



Hereford cattle for grazers are of the first rank. No other breed 

 will sustain itself on the range, depending entirely on grass and 

 forage, and will thrive 

 so well as this. In- 

 heriting a very hardy 

 constitution and being 

 capable of withstand- 

 ing unusual severity of 

 winter weather, and 

 with a capacity to gain 

 in weight and do well 

 on a relatively sparse 

 feed, the Hereford 

 has proved itself to be 

 the leading breed for 

 the range. It is not 

 so well suited to re- 



FIG. 108. Crossbred heifers out of grade Hereford 



cows, sired by an Aberdeen-Angus bull. Bred 



by Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. From 



photograph by the author 



stricted pastures and 



stable confinement as 



either Shorthorn or 



Aberdeen-Angus, but on the great ranges of the western United 



States and Canada, in Brazil and Argentina, it has no equal. 



The crossbred or grade Hereford is a prime favorite among 

 feeders of beef cattle. Beyond the Missouri River and in the 

 Southwest Hereford bulls have accomplished remarkable results in 

 grading up and improving the common cattle of the range. The 

 old-fashioned longhorn Spanish type of cattle of the Southwest 

 have disappeared under the improving influence of Hereford 

 blood. During the course of years grade Herefords on the range 

 have taken on all the characteristics of the pure-breds, and millions 

 of these cattle have been transferred from the range country to 



