330 THE PORTRAIT GALLERY 



THE DURHAM OX 



133. The ultimate test of excellence in beef breeding is the 

 block and so it was that the Durham Ox, (the second calf sired 

 by Mr. Charles Colling's (94) first triumph in pedigrees, the 

 bull Favorite), was steered and grown out for exhibition as a 

 bullock. He was dropped in 1796 out of a native black and 

 white cow, purchased at Durham Fair. Plied with feed bucket 

 and choicest pasture until five years of age, he attained the nota- 

 ble weight of 3,024 pounds. At this point he left Mr, Colling's 

 hands, being purchased in February, 1801, for $700 by a Mr. 

 BuLMER of Harnby. Bulmer had a special carriage built to 

 transport him and after five weeks' exhibition sold both ox and 

 carriage to Mr. John Day of Rotherham for $1,250. Within 

 seven weeks Mr. Day refused $2,625 for him, a month later he 

 refused $5,000, and two months later $10,000. For nearly six 

 years this notable animal was carried through the principal 

 sections of England and Scotland, until in February, 1807, he 

 dislocated his hip bone. Due to his extreme flesh and his 

 advanced age of eleven years, it was impossible to reset it and 

 after eight weeks of further travel during which he shrunk con- 

 siderably in weight, he was slaughtered- His dressed weight 

 totaled 2,620 pounds, 2,322 pounds of which was found in the 

 four carcass quarters. This placed his liveweight at over 3,000 

 pounds while Mr. Day announced his weight at ten years as 

 3,400 pounds. Prior to this time such exhibitions of beef mass 

 with thick joints and deeply bedded, ribs were unknown, and a 

 great debt is due the CoLLiNG brothers by the Shorthorn fra- 

 ternity for such an early demonstration of beef making ability. 



