m GREYSTO^^: heed. 333 



give 5 s. more per cwt. for a fat polled animal than for 

 a fat cross, because in shop use the polled animal, on 

 account of smaller bone development, was a better cutting 

 beast. This, on an animal of 8 cwts., showed a difference 

 of value in favour of the polled bullock of £2 a head. 

 It may be asked if bullocks could be fed off at an earlier 

 age, and the answer is in the affirmative. By a more 

 liberal use of concentrated foods, and especially by giving 

 them cake on the grass, I could make black polls prime 

 fat at two years old ; but it has been my habit to prepare 

 my best cattle for Christmas, and as a whole I iind the 

 market at that time, most safe and steady. In regard to 

 the milking qualities of the polled breed, I think breeders 

 have rather neglected their duty. We have endeavoured 

 to produce a model butcher's animal ; and we have suc- 

 ceeded in that, but we have not so well attended to the 

 fostering of the milking qualities of the breed. It is an 

 undoubted fact — I remember examples myself — that the 

 old Aberdeen unimproved polled breed were excellent 

 milkers. There are among the breed good milkers still. 

 I have cows that suckle two calves, and I know other, 

 breeders who have superior milkers also ; but we have, 

 as already remarked, given ourselves more to producing 

 the meat than the milk yielding animal, and that is the 

 simple reason why the black polled cattle have not a 

 better name as dairy stock." 



Mr James Eeid, Greystone, Alford, whose experience 

 as a breeder, feeder, and exhibitor of polled cattle is of 

 an extensive and exceptional kind, says truly, that while 

 great care should be exercised in selecting and mating 

 cows and bulls, it is also necessary that close attention 

 should be given to the rearing of calves. The calf flesh, 

 he says, should be retained not by too much forcing food, 

 but by wholesome diet, and by housing in good time, so 

 as not to allow the hair to overgrow. The skin should 

 be kept clean by grooming. The young animal should 



