THE SUSSEX 



235 



The size of Sussex cattle is large, comparable with the Here- 

 ford, which they somewhat resemble, excepting for color. Some 

 Sussex have attained very heavy weights. Cows frequently 

 weigh about 1400 pounds and bulls 2000 pounds. 



The beef properties of Sussex cattle are superior and may be 

 fairly compared with the Shorthorn for merit. From early days 

 in the last century the breed has made an excellent record in 

 the fat stock show contests of England. In Feeds and Feeding 

 Professor Henry gives the following record of Sussex cattle 

 shown at the Smithfield show between 1888 and 1895 : 



year old . 



Number 

 Animals 



677 days 



1285 



Average 

 Daily Gain 



2.1S lb. 

 1.86 " 

 1.61 " 



Live 

 Weight 



1452 lb. 

 .837 " 

 2064 " 



Per cent 

 Dressed 



65.42 

 68.18 

 67.98 



Mr. W. W. Chapman, in the Live Stock Journal Almanac 

 for 1903, also publishes a table of Sussex weights and gains 

 based on Smithfield Club shows. In this 13 steers, averaging 

 about 681 days old, weighed an average of 1433^ pounds; 

 six, with an average of 1043 days, weighed 1829 pounds; and 

 ten heifers, averaging 979 days, weighed 1588^ pounds. In 

 1902 the first -prize Sussex two-year-old steer at the Smith- 

 field show dressed 68.02 per cent. In 1885 at the American 

 Fat Stock Show a yearling Sussex steer received the class 

 prize on the butcher's block and came within one vote of win- 

 ning sweepstakes. Housman states that the averages for Sus- 

 sex steers between three and four years old exhibited at the 

 Smithfield Club Show during 1882, 1883, 1884, and 1885 

 showed a general average weight of about 18 J hundredweight 

 (2072 pounds). 



The milk-giving qualities of Sussex cattle are such as might 

 be expected with a breed tending strongly to beef production, 

 being somewhat inferior. The breed in recent years has not met 

 with favor in this respect. The milk, however, is superior in 

 quality if not in quantity. 



