45 6 



to the members of the Longhorn Cattle Society number 23, and 

 there are over 500 registered Longhorn cattle in the country. 



Improvement in the Breed. The breed has meanwhile been de- 

 veloped and brought into line with modern requirements in the 

 matter of an improved tendency to early maturity. The hardiness 

 of constitution and power to live and thrive on coarse food have 

 been retained, and this is a great advantage when returns from 

 grazing and feeding cattle are low, and when it does not pay to 

 supply the maximum of concentrated food to fattening animals. 

 The quality of the flesh has been improved in colour, and it now 

 ranks with the best of other breeds. Pure-bred Longhorns and 

 their crosses with beef breeds have during recent years taken 

 creditable positions in the leading fat-stock competitions in this 

 country. 



Milking qualities. The latent milking powers are again developing, 

 and good cows produce from 14 Ib. up to 17 and 18 Ib. of 

 butter per week on ordinary pasture. The Longhorn-Jersey cross 

 is a good milker. 



THE HEREFORD. Wide Distribution of the Hereford Breed. 

 Hereford cattle, (i) although only a local breed in England, have be- 

 come almost cosmopolitan in their distribution as the most highly 

 appreciated range breed in Australia and in both North and South 

 America. They hold this proud position on account of the high 

 quality of their marbled beef, the perfection of their feet and limbs, 

 their activity, docility, and hardiness of constitution, together with 

 their adaptability for crossing with other breeds. The larger build, 

 and wonderful tendency to early maturity, of some Shorthorns under 

 highly favourable food conditions may enable them to attain greater 

 weights at two to three years old ; but, on the open range as utility 

 animals, Herefords have proved " more prolific and less prone to 

 disease, while they mature earlier, travel better and consequently 

 pay better than Shorthorns, for the reason the surroundings are 

 better adapted to this particular breed." 



Origin of the Breed. The breed is believed to have descended 

 by one side of its ancestry, like the Devon and Sussex breeds, 

 from the old Red cow of Southern England, and, about a century 

 and a quarter ago, it was generally whole-coloured " brown or 

 reddish-brown with not a spot of white." 



(i) See History *f Hereford Cattle, by Macdonald and Sinclair. London 

 Vinton and Co., Ltd., 1909. 



