Wilson, Biology of cattle. 04-2 



important part of man's estate over the whole backbone of the 

 Globe. Extremes on the Equator and Arctic sides finding specimens 

 of animals which take their place. In the ark and in the spread 

 of mankind after the flood cattle bore a füll share of importance. 

 Egyptian, Indian and Celtic tradition alike extol the value of our 

 subject and from various points. Probably various enlistments 

 of wild cattle into popularly recognised domestication happened as 

 the best civilized forces marched from country to country. Where 

 also, would be found a certain number of a stock belonging to the 

 inhabitants. Intermixing must have occured from time to time 

 as one people invaded anothers country. Allowing chance to do 

 what care does in our day. It is considered that the thread of 

 migration spread from Western Asia, on all sides of domesti- 

 cated ones. This view would bring about a certain share of 

 uniformity of cattle. Which would intermix more or less with 

 whatever stock the invaded country had. We now come to the 

 absolute care of cattle as recognised in Agriculture. This means 

 that care and food is carefully attended to for them. And, at 

 whatever date an Author may happen to write he must find it 

 apropriate to deal with the matter in sometling like the way it 

 Stands at the time. Very well so much for this text we find for 

 long great differences in the original form. In our champion classes 

 we find horns long ago vanished in some breeds. , While in others 

 this apendage to the head which has guided the Biologist in 

 classifying the Order, Genus, and Species weare dealing with, 

 had become equally refined in the change. Which, still, in 

 some outlying parts we see the original traits of our wild cattle. 

 What then is the success which has attended this great help to man 

 in the improvement of Cattle? We have breeds as they are called 

 whose predominating feature is the amount and quality and 

 Proportion ofbeef compared with offal which some yield. Also, 

 the adaptibility of others to produce milk. This has resulted in 

 a developement of breeds, and of strains of breeds as they are 

 called. For instance some are of most value for one side while 

 another is for the other. And yet another breed will be com- 

 paratively useful on both sides. A third feature is the quality 01 

 stock for improving generally through bulls inferior stock. Dealing 

 as an example of the first class, I will take the cattle breed which 

 I know best and suited for the climate which I farm that is the 

 black polled cattle of Scotland. Which as beef producers hold 

 their own with any cattle. These arevirtually cleared of the horns, 

 by nature or art, they yield good quality of milk, but short of 

 quantity. Still they have not been strained this way. And there 

 are some who maintain that they will hold their ground this way 

 if properly tried. We have, however, in a closely allied strain Ayr 

 shire cattle animals high up as dairy cattle. They have little hardi 

 hood compared with the polls. The polled bull is also a powerful 



