BEEF BREEDS 139 



Shorthorns. They mature early and graze well. They might claim attention 

 for dual-purpose, as they produce a good quantity of milk. In color they 

 are bright red, with white tip on tail and udder. See also under Dual- 

 Purpose. 



POLLED DURHAM Polled Durhams are another cross breed, being 

 Shorthorn stock bred hornless, the result of special 



attention in Western Ohio. They are essentially the same as Shorthorns, 

 their pure sires, though improving in milking qualities. As beef producers 

 they rank well. They are a very practical type, and are now distributed 

 pretty thoroughly from the Mississippi to the far west, and are increasing 

 in popularity. 



SUSSEX Another breed distributed in our central valley is the Sussex, 



imported in 1884 but hardly yet established as popular, although 



we find them in Indiana, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Texas. The Sussex 



Aberdeen Angus Hereford Shorthorn 



are a large beef breed, in form much like the Hereford, but in color red. 

 Thus they have the blocky, well sprung, capacious body of a true beef type. 

 Unfortunately they are horned, which is against them for shipping. In 

 their original Sussex home in England the breed was much used for draft 

 and farm purposes. They are early maturing, though not as early as the 

 Hereford; but in grazing qualities they equal that breed. They would 

 certainly do well in the Mississippi Valley; and enterprising stockmen are 

 uniting to increase their popularity there. The Sussex would be valuable 

 for crossing on ordinary grade cattle for beef purposes. They dress out 

 at an unusually high percent. The following is averaged from Prof. 

 Henry's table: 



1 year weight 1452 Ibs ' drsssed 65.42% 



2 year weight 1837 Ibs dressed 68.18% 



3 year weight 2064 Ibs dressed 67.98% 



WEST HIGHLAND A very interesting breed is the West Highland. It- 

 self a picturesque type hair long and shaggy, in 



color maybe brindle, with horns widespread the West Highland can easily 

 be credited with being the descendant of the ancient wild herds of Great 

 Britain. This breed still has a wonderful hardiness, and can make a living 

 on a range so bare and poor that any other would surely starve. They 

 almost surpass the Galloway in this respect. The milk yield is small, but 

 they grow excellent beef. The animals are small, averaging 900 Ibs. for the 

 cows, and 1200 for steers. They are hardly suitable for grading up native 

 stock; but a great many have been imported from the Scottish West High- 

 lands simply for the purpose of lending contrast to our better known breeds. 



