THE HEREFORD 



209 



breed is usually distinctly superior, showing fine hair, a mellow, 

 elastic skin of medium thickness, and fine bone. In temper- 

 ament Herefords are less docile than Shorthorns under similar 

 conditions, and do not so readily accustom themselves to the 

 confinement of limited quarters where grazing is not abundant. 



The Herefords as meat producers have always ranked high. For 

 many years their meat held the highest place at the Smithfield 

 market in London. At the first fifty-two annual meetings of the 

 Smithfield Club, with various breeds in competition, 185 prizes 



FIG. 85. Lorna Doone 94479, by Christopher 69072. Grand champion Here- 

 ford cow at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, ^904, and at various other 

 leading exhibitions, and noted as a great specimen of the breed. Bred and 

 owned by W. S. Van Natta & Son. Photograph by the author 



went to Hereford steers or oxen and only 190 to all other breeds or 

 crosses combined. In recent years the Hereford has not been so 

 uniformly successful, owing to the influence of Aberdeen Angus 

 and Shorthorn, but even to-day it may be classed in the first rank. 

 At the 1905 International Live Stock Exposition at Chicago a 

 car load of grade Hereford steers exhibited by D. W. Black of 

 Ohio, champions in their class, dressed out 65.1 per cent, the 

 record of yearling steers. In early maturity no breed excels the 

 Hereford, and for producing " baby beef " it is of the best. 



