UNITED STATES 187 



of work steers if handled constantly by one driver, but they 

 have a nervous disposition, and give considerable trouble where 

 the drivers are frequently changed. They are more nervous 

 than any of our breeds of cattle. When raised in small herds 

 and handled constantly they are quite docile, but if handled 

 under range conditions they become very wild, and stampede 

 or fight readily. The quality of the beef from these animals 

 or from grade Brahmans is slightly inferior to that of either 

 the beef breeds or the dual-purpose cattle, but they dress out 

 a high percentage of meat. 



In size the bulls range from 1500 to 1800 pounds, and many 

 of them attain a height of 6 ft., while the cows usually weigh 

 from 1100 to 1400 pounds. The various strains of these cattle 

 have different colours, although each strain has a fixed colour. 

 The colours are pure white or a creamy white, silvery grey, red, 

 and dark brown approaching black. The silver-grey, with 

 dark fawn on shoulders and neck, and the creamy white, are 

 the most popular colours. Many of the animals have brindle 

 stripes on the body. 



The chief characteristics of the breed are the large hump on 

 the withers, the large loose folds of skin forming the dewlap 

 and the navel, and the long, drooping, pendulous ears. The 

 head is also characteristic of this breed, as it is long, with a 

 forehead which recedes from the eyes to the horns, while the 

 bones forming the brow are prominent. The head tapers 

 gradually from the eyes to the nostrils, the horns are dark, 

 short, straight, heavy at the base, and point upward and 

 backward. The ears are very long, drooping, and are thin 

 and oily, frequently being almost devoid of hair. The eye is 

 mild and sleepy, but changes quickly when the animal is 

 aroused. The neck is of medium length and has heavy folds 

 of skin forming an over -developed dewlap with fulness at the 

 throttle. The body is deep but rather narrow, the hips are 

 long, sloping, and narrow, and the rump often droops toward 

 the tail. The legs are long, tapering, and show a strong bone 

 free from coarseness. A very heavy sheath is developed, and 

 in old bulls often hangs 9 in. or more below the belly. The 

 hump is large in the males, attaining a height of 12 to 16 inches, 

 but is not so well developed in the females. The half-bred 



