THE BEEF BREEDS OF CATTLE 2238 
other parts white. In the establishment of the im- 
proved and pedigreed Herefords, different breeders man- 
ifested a preference for animals of one or the other of 
these markings, and each zealously maintained the same 
during his breeding operations. The result of this was 
that, about 1845, there were several different strains of 
Hereford cattle that were distinguished mainly by their 
color markings, and were designated by the name of some 
prominent breeder, who had originated or was closely 
connected with the development of this particular strain. 
Subsequent breeders very wisely interbred these different 
strains or families, with the result that in a few years the 
breed became of a uniform color and markings, as at the 
present day. 
The Hereford is among the oldest, if not the oldest es- 
tablished of the English breeds of domestic cattle. Some 
of its early improvers were contemporary, and some ante- 
cedent to the operations of Bakewell, who began his great 
work as a scientific breeder about 1755. As an evidence 
of the importance and advancement of the Hereford in 
production of beef at an early date, it may be cited that 
the prize for the champion steer over all-breeds at the first 
show of the Smithfield Club held at London in 1799 was 
won by a Hereford steer, and the same for several subse- 
quent years. At a dispersion sale by auction of the breed- 
ing herd of one of the early improvers of the Hereford, held 
in 1819, the average of the sale was about $750 a head. 
258. History in America. — Importations of a few head 
of Herefords were made to America in 1817, 1824 and 
1840. The first two of these importations were unfortu- 
nate in that in one case the bull died, and in the other the 
cow died. The difficulties and risks attending the making 
of importations of cattle at that time were so great that 
