THE BEEF BREEDS OF CATTLE 247 
they do not attain so great size as some of the other beef 
breeds, yet they are more economical feeders, especially 
where a large proportion of roughage has to be consumed. 
When the numbers of each breed are considered, the Gallo- 
ways top the market at the great live-stock centers as 
often as any other breed. The killing qualities are in 
their favor because, as a rule, the Galloways have com- 
paratively little offal or excess fat, and consequently they 
dress a very high percentage of marketable beef. 
280. Use for hides. — In midsummer the hide of the 
Galloway has no greater comparative value than that of 
any other breed. From November to March, however, 
when the coat of hair is long and at its best, the Galloway 
hide is worth five to eight cents per pound more than the 
hide of an animal of any other breed. There was a time 
when the western plains were covered with buffalo, which 
produced millions of robes, but these animals are now 
almost extinct, and the Galloway is the only domestic 
animal of the bovine race that can roam the plains and 
produce a superior quality of beef and robes that can 
take the place of the hides of the buffalo of days gone by. 
281. Use for grazing. — As grazers, the Galloways are 
seldom equaled and never excelled. It has already been 
mentioned that the habitat of the Galloway was for 
centuries in the southwest of Scotland. They were often 
kept on the hills where the pasture was scant, and they 
invariably gave a good account of themselves. They re- 
spond readily to the luxuriant pasture of the valleys, but 
thrive and seem contented on the bleak, scant forage of 
the moorland. Fora time they had a struggle for existence 
in this country, due to the keenness of their rivalry with 
the other beef breeds. Their persistent struggles and 
many victories in the show-yard in recent years, however, 
