HISTORY AND S lAI ISilCS 01- 11 Hl CATl Lli IXIJUSTRY. 



23 



With the progress of civilizalioii, the least desirahle breeds were cxtcniiinated, 

 while the fittest survived in a state of domestication. Descendants of one of these 

 ancient herds are still to be found in the Chillingham cattle of England. They are 

 wild only because all possible means are used to keep them so. The wildest and less 

 frequented tracts of two extensive parks arc set apart for their use. These cattle are 

 supposed to be descendants of the best of the ancient cattle of Great Britain. 



Cattle were first brought to America by the Spaniards soon after its discovery 

 by Columbus. As these bred and increased, the vast plains of Spanish America 

 ivere covered with innumerable cattle. As these herds increased many of the cattle 

 escaped and got away from civilization, living" in a wild state and roaming over vast 

 tracts of territory. As civilization has extended into new territory, these wild 

 herds have gradually been brought under the hand of man or have been destroyed, 

 and domestic cattle have taken their place, until at present there are practically 

 no wild cattle in any section of the world. 



The cattle which were originally to be found on the western plains and sec- 

 tions of the United States, came from the cattle brought to America by the Span- 

 iards. These cattle were first almost in a wild state, and were only rounded up 

 once or twice a year when the young were branded and the grown animals taken 

 out for shipment. 



There are still in the west many large herds of cattle which are kept out on the 

 ranges and only brought up for the branding of the calves and the shipment of the 

 matured stock. But as these western sections of the country are more thickly 

 settled, these herds are gradually becoming smaller and the ranges are being 

 fenced in so that the cattle are receiving more attention and are gradually being 

 brought up to a higher grade. 



These Spanish cattle and their de- 

 scendants are usually large in size, long 

 legged, various in color, and their dis- 

 tinguishing characteristic is their long 

 and widely extended horns. 



The English settlers early intro- 

 duced cattle in the colonies, bringing 

 them from Great Britain. 



In an early day the cattle in the 

 United States were a mixture of various 

 breeds imported by the early settlers, 

 who, for want of good barns, and from 

 habits established in a milder climate, 

 allowed their cattle to suffer severely. 

 Many perished and the survivors degen- 

 Type of Original Spanlsli Cattle. erated in size and quality. As agricul- 



ture advanced and the people became more prosperous the cattle were improved by 

 better care and feeding. 



As the English breeds gained celebrity, they attracted the attention of enter- 

 prising breeders in this country, who began importing the different breeds, and by 

 strict attention and experience in care and breeding, have continued to improve 

 the grade of cattle in this country, so that at the present time all progressive stock 

 owners are introducing pure bred strains in their herds. 



