154 



FARMER'S CYCLOPEDIA OF LIVE STOCK 



Popularity — At present, Shorthorns 

 are found in every state and territory 

 in the Union, and in every province of 

 the Dominion of Canada. Shorthorns 

 are perhaps relatively most numerous 

 in Illinois and Iowa, but are abundantly 

 distributed throughout the central 

 states. Their popularity is due largely 

 to their fitness for the purpose for 

 which they are raised ; or, in other words, 

 is based on a solid business foundation. 

 Shorthorns are capable of readily 

 adapting themselves to the different con- 

 ditions under which they are found. In 



become fully mature and attain their 

 complete size at the age of four years. 

 The conditions under which they 

 thrive best and yield the greatest profits 

 are those which prevail in the central 

 states, where good pastures are to be 

 obtained, and where suitable grains for 

 fattening are abundant. Shorthorns 

 are capable of making as good returns 

 for their feed as any other breed. The 

 meat is of good quality, the percentage 

 of bone and offal is small, but the grain 

 of the meat is not quite so fine as is 

 observed in other breeds. 



Fig. 235 SHORTHORN BULL FROM NONPAREIL HERD 



point of hardihood they are not equal 

 to the Galloways or Scotch Highland 

 cattle, and are perhaps inferior in this 

 respect to the Herefords, especially under 

 range conditions. This matter, how- 

 ever, depends so greatly upon the opin- 

 ion of breeders, who are almost always 

 somewbat prejudiced in favor of one 

 breed or another, that the point is not 

 worth arguing. In regard to size and 

 weight, they are somewhat superior to 

 all other beef breeds. They mature as 

 early as other breeds, and may be 

 brought to a proper market ripeness at 

 the age of two and one-half years. They 



Strong and weak points — One of the 

 strong points in favor of Shorthorns is 

 tbeir milk yield. In fact, the Shorthorn 

 is often referred to as a dual purpose 

 breed, yielding a good quality of beef, 

 and at the same time giving a large 

 quantity of milk. This quality has 

 been considered of sufficient importance 

 to perpetuate, and, as a result, we have 

 a milking race of Shorthorns. 



More attention has been given to 

 milking Shorthorns in England than in 

 this country, and this fact is perhaps 

 due to a tendency among our breeders 

 to go into specialties. This requires 



