HIGH QUALITY OF THEIR BEEF. 83 



The Galloway, as already noted, has a thicker skin and 

 stronger coat of hair, and has altogether a slightly more 

 shaggy appearance than the northern polled cattle, and 

 does not mature quite so quickly. 



It is claimed that the northern polls surpass all other 

 races of cattle in the production of beef. On that point 

 there is of course considerable difference of opinion ; for at 

 the present day, when the beef-producing properties of 

 our other leading breeds, notably the Shorthorn and Here- 

 ford, have been developed to so high a degree, it could not 

 be expected that with anything like unanimity any one 

 breed would be accorded the premier position. Be that as 

 it may, we think the polled Aberdeen or Angus breed 

 may safely be said to be inferior to none as all-round 

 beef-cattle, and superior to all others in some respects. 

 The brilliant and unequalled position it has latterly taken, 

 alike in the show-yard and market-place, sufficiently estab- 

 lishes its claim to that description. Its show-yard achieve- 

 ments will be fully noticed afterwards. Here it may be 

 noted, that at the Paris Exhibition in 1878 it carried off 

 every single honour for which it was entitled to compete, 

 including the £100 prize for the best group of beef-produc- 

 ing cattle in the Exhibition ; and that in British show- 

 yards, both fat stock and breeding, it has attained to a 

 leading position. In a strictly butcher's point of view, it 

 has very seldom to yield to any other race of cattle. 



The superiority over most other breeds, for the butcher's 

 purpose, lies mainly in the excellent quality of beef, and 

 in the high percentage of dead meat to live weight. 

 As a rule, the beef of the northern polls is very well 

 mixed, and contains a greater proportion of compact, 

 finely grained flesh, and less soft, coarse fat, than most 

 other kinds of beef. Inside, the carcass is usually well 

 lined with fat of the finest quality ; while in the density 

 and quality of the carcass itself, the breed may fairly 

 enough claim the premier position among all our leading 



