330 THE PORTRAIT GALLERY 
THE DURHAM OX 
133. The ultimate test of excellence in beef breeding is the 
block and so it was that the Durham Ox, (the second calf sired 
by Mr. Cartes Coiiine’s (94) first triumph in pedigrees, the 
bull Favorite), was steered and grown out for exhibition as a 
bullock. He was dropped in 1796 out of a native black and 
white cow, purchased at Durham Fair. Plied with feed bucket 
and choicest pasture until five years of age, he attained the nota- 
ble weight of 3,024 pounds. At this point he left Mr. CoLiine’s 
hands, being purchased in February, 1801, for $700 by a Mr. 
Butmer of Harnby. Butmer had a special carriage built to 
transport him and after five weeks’ exhibition sold both ox and 
carriage to Mr. Joun Day of Rotherham for $1,250. Within 
seven weeks Mr. Day refused $2,625 for him, a month later he 
refused $5,000, and two months later $10,000. For nearly six 
years this notable animal was carried through the principal 
sections of England and Scotland, until in February, 1807, he 
dislocated his hip bone. Due to his extreme flesh and his 
advanced age of eleven years, it was impossible to reset it and 
after eight weeks of further travel during which he shrunk con- 
siderably in weight, he was slaughtered. His dressed weight 
totaled 2,620 pounds, 2,322 pounds of which was found in the 
four carcass quarters. This placed his liveweight at over 3,000 
pounds while Mr. Day announced his weight at ten years as 
3,400 pounds. Prior to this time such exhibitions of beef mass 
with thick joints and deeply bedded ribs were unknown, and a 
great debt is due the Coxiinc brothers by the Shorthorn fra- 
ternity for such an early demonstration of beef making ability. 
