160 How THE FARM PAYS. 



HEREFORD CATTLE. 



The Herefords are the standard beef cattle of the County of Here- 

 ford, in England. These, and the Devons, are the two oldest "breeds 

 of domesticated cattle known to exist. I think it was probably fifty 

 or sixty years ago that this breed was first introduced into thi& 

 country, and there is hardly a section throughout New England, 

 New York or Pennsylvania but you will find the mark of the Here- 

 fords among their herds. They have been bred so long, that where 

 the bulls have been used among our native cows their progeny is 

 marked with about the same color. All Herefords, without excep- 

 tion, have white faces; a brown, or dull red color, on the body, with 

 a white stripe on the back; are compactly built, and have very little 

 offal when they come to the shambles. In the past few years they 

 have compared favorably with the Short Horns, weight for weight, 

 in the carcass; but their beef is more valuable, as there is less waste 

 in. it, being mixed, with the fat evenly distributed throughout the 

 carcass. When crossed with our native cows their progeny make 



HEREFORD BULL. 



useful animals for the milkman or dairyman, or for the farmer for 

 grazing or stall feeding. As working oxen the steers are found to be 

 remarkably gentle and docile, but slower than the Devons. For a 

 few years past they have been extensively introduced into the West 

 for stall feeding and grazing on the plains. They have become very 

 popular there, since they have taken several first premiums at the fat 

 cattle exhibitions. 



