368 



IIISTOEY OF HEEEFORD CATTLE 



which breed I think very highly of; but I have 

 also purchased some Herefords from Lord 

 Batenian's and Lord Berwick's herds and am 

 highly pleased with them. The climate is very 

 variafde, varying in twenty-four hours from 30 

 to 40 degrees, but the Herefords stand the 

 changes equal to any breed.' 



"Mr. Edwards, Knoekalva, Jamaica, says 

 that for many years they had no change of 

 blood till 1S53, when Sir Oliver (1732) and 

 Malcolm (1(J46) were imported, and that they 

 did the greatest service in the island ; that this 

 breed are good workers, hardy and of great 

 aptitude to fatten. Mr. Merryman of Maryland, 

 and Mr. John Johnston, of New York, testified 



SIR GARNET (6180) 2189. 

 Bred by B. Rogers. 



to the breed standing the variations of the 

 climate remarkably well. Mr. W. Langau, from 

 Hunter's Eiver, Australia, in addition to their 

 feeding powers and hardiness of constitution, 

 found they were excellent in traveling long dis- 

 tances and that they would do from 250 to 300 

 miles better than any others. I have therefore 

 shown that the Herefords are admirable for 

 foreign 'countries. Amongst the most noted 

 strains of blood I find Leopold (1) and Wel- 

 lington (4), which bull was sold in 1816 for 

 £283 ($1^415), from whom the mottled faces 

 are mostly descended, and Victory (33), which 

 was a dark grey, and Gotmore (376), which was 

 a white- faced bull, and Brockswood (485), 

 which was a light grey, were all specially noted 

 in the first number of Mr. Eyton's Herd Book. 

 "Mr. Dixon remarks that there were not 

 many points of difference between the dark 

 grevs and the mottled faces, the latter of which 

 were known as Ben Tomkins' sort; and that 

 Rev. Mr. Smythies,of The L}Tich,was one of the 

 best and most spirited breeders of his day, and 

 offered to show a hundred Herefords against 

 the same number of Shorthorns from any herd 

 in England. All these remarks show that much 



pains and infinite care has been taken in per- 

 fecting this noble breed, and for the best lines 

 of blood the Herd Book must be consulted. 



"The breeders put their heifers to the bull at 

 from eighteen months old to two years, and the 

 calves generally run by the side of their dams 

 for several months. The cows are put to the 

 bull at a certain time, so that they may gener- 

 ally come due to calve in the early spring, and to 

 meet the grass ; although some others like the 

 cows to calve about October or November, hous- 

 ing the calves and keeping them on with a little 

 milk and cake, so as to be strong by the summer. 

 Some breeders think that by letting the calves 

 suck the mothers it prevents the cows coming 

 into season for the bull as early as if they were 

 weaned at once, but from inquiries I have made 

 I find but little difference in it. This is con- 

 trary to my own and other breeders' practice, 

 as I have found the cow lies barren, especially 

 Shorthorns, for some months after calving, if 

 the calf lies night and day with the darn. 

 Several Herefordshire breeders are in the habit 

 of giving their calves, at a very early age, good, 

 old beans, which should be given whole, and in 

 a few days they begin to erack them after roll- 

 ing them about in their mouths, and secreting 

 that frothy saliva which seems to be so con- 

 ducive to a calf's well doing. I have tried the 

 plan and can speak highly of the practice. Xo 

 food can be better, as beans are peculiarly fitted 

 for forming bone and muscle. 



"On the whole, I believe the Hereford breed 

 as a flesh forming animal is second to no breed 

 in the world. The meat itself is equal, when 

 well fed, to the best Scotch, and every authority 

 proves they do well when imported into other 

 climes. In England it is found that the best 

 grass lands are most calculated for their flesh 

 development, and when tied up, liberally fed. 

 and well cared for, they can hold their own in 

 the show yard against any breed in the countrv. 

 As dairv cattle the Shorthorns beat them, but, 

 taking all things into consideration, England 

 may well be proud of her white-faced Herefords. 



"John- Herslet Fooler. 

 "Prebendal Farm, near Avlesburv, 

 "Jan. 7, 1884." 



Consul S. B. Packard, of Liverpool (11249), 

 reported : 



"HEEEFOED CATTLE. This breed takes 

 its name from the countv where thev were first 

 bred, but they are to be found also in the adjoin- 

 ing counties. They are also .Errazed on most of 

 the great grazing farms of the midland coun- 

 ties, and there are also breeding herds in Scot- 

 land and Ireland. The Queen's celebrated herd 



