CATTLE 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

 CATTLE. 



THE improved breeds of cattle of to-day were developed 

 from the native types found in Western Europe, chiefly in 

 Great Britain. There are many named breeds, but only 

 a few have gained a prominent place among stockmen. The 

 most important are classified as (1) beef breeds, (2) dual- 

 purpose or general-purpose breeds, (3) dairy breeds. Grade 

 animals of the pure breeds may be obtained by the use of 

 pure bred males of the breed desired. Good high grades 

 always give better results than scrubs or natives, either for 

 milk or for beef. 



Beef Breeds. These are raised not for milk but for meat. 

 They are in some rare cases so highly specialized that the 

 mothers, though well fed, fail to give enough milk for their 

 calves. None of the beef breeds except the Shorthorn gives 

 milk enough to be considered profitable for dairy use. 



Beef animals should have deep, plump, compact bodies, 

 well covered with flesh, giving them a blocky appearance; 

 the back is broad; the legs are short, straight, and well- 

 placed; all quarters are quite thick; the neck is short and 

 thick. The whole appearance is that of meat-production. 



The chief distinctive beef breeds are: (1) Shorthorn, 

 including Polled Durham, (2) Hereford, (3) Aberdeen Angus, 

 and (4) Galloway. 



Shorthorns originated in northeastern England and were 

 first introduced into America in 1783. They are now very 

 popular cattle. In their general type most of the families 

 of the breed conform closely to the beef type (Fig. 162); 

 but that branch known as the Bates family of Shorthorns 

 are so much inclined toward the dairy type as to be classed 

 as general-purpose animals. The name was given them 

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