238 THE BREEDS OF LIVE-STOCK 
although occasionally scurs appear, which, however, are 
no detriment from the feeder’s point of view. 
The Aberdeen-Angus cattle rapidly rose in public favor. 
Sales were held at various points, and the cattle were 
scattered over a large territory. Perhaps there is no other 
instance in which a new and practically unknown breed 
has sprung at once into such prominence and has main- 
tained so high a position. 
270. Description. —Aberdeen-Angus cattle are dis- 
tinguished by the following breed characteristics (Figs. 
38, 39): black color, polled heads (Plate VIII), rotund 
compact type, smoothness of conformation, short legs, 
evenness of flesh 
when fat, and deep, 
full hind-quarters. 
They are uniform in 
type, take on flesh 
evenly, dress a large 
percentage of high- 
class beef, and, as a 
rule, reach in the 
hands of experienced 
feeders a degree of primeness rarely equaled. The mar- 
bling of their flesh, 7.c., its proportion and blending of lean 
meat and fat, is also a characteristic. In slaughter tests 
they have been uniformly successful in competition with 
other cattle, their fineness of bone and high percentage 
of muscle or lean meat giving them dressing scores which 
average above those of competitors. In hardiness and 
prolificacy they do not differ materially from other breeds. 
The females, usually good average milkers, are always 
capable of raising their own offspring. 
In the early days of the breed there was not so much 
Fia. 38.— Aberdeen-Angus bull. 
