THE BEEF BREEDS OF CATTLE 253 
stitution, uniform popular color and capacity to im- 
press these characteristics on their offspring. 
289. Uses of Sussex cattle. — As the Sussex is pri- 
marily a beef breed, its milk-giving qualities have not 
been especially developed. At the same time, the cows, 
almost without exception, give milk of most excellent 
quality and, if milked closely, make surprisingly good 
dairy animals. They fatten when dry more readily, 
perhaps, than the steers. 
The Sussex has achieved the highest honors ‘‘ on the 
scale and the block.” The object of the breeders, as a 
class, revealed by the typical Sussex of to-day, has been 
to produce the most profitable butcher’s beast; to hasten 
the period of maturity and improve the quality, without 
forgetting to preserve these most excellent characteristics 
of the breed, — sound constitution, capacity to rustle, 
fecundity and prepotency. About 1500 pounds for cows 
and 2000 pounds for bulls represent the average weights 
of animals in good breeding condition. The average 
weight of a well-fatted bullock, twenty-four months old, 
may be safely put at 1400 pounds. 
The prepotency of Sussex bulls makes them valuable 
for crossing on native or grade stock, to improve the 
beefing qualities and ability to graze. They readily 
stamp their characters on their crosses. 
290. Feeding and care.— The breed responds as 
generously as any to full feeding and care, and thrives 
on rough and scant pasturage. In cold weather, shelter — 
the lee side of a shed, or wind-shield, or straw-stack, if 
no better is obtainable — is a distinct advantage; at 
other seasons, nothing but fair grazing is required. 
291. Distribution. — Sussex cattle are not yet widely 
distributed. Their local habitat is Sussex and the ad- 
