240 



CATTLE 



The prolificacy of the Shorthorn is fairly comparable with the 

 other beef breeds. There are many examples to be found of 

 Shorthorn cows that have during long lives dropped many calves, 

 and twins are not so uncommon with the breed as to be remark- 

 able. In early days the Duchess family, as promoted by Bates, 

 was subject to considerable criticism for lack of fecundity, but this 

 criticism did not have a wide application to the breed. A remark- 

 ably prolific grade Shorthorn cow that had dropped twenty-two 

 calves is reported by George Winsak of Montana. Evan Baillie of 



England reports in the 

 Live Stock Journal 

 (London) on the cow 

 Lady Oxford Kirkle- 

 vington, that at twelve 

 years had dropped 

 eleven calves, all sin- 

 gles. Her dam, Kirk- 

 levington 8th, had five 

 daughters in succes- 

 sion and has handed 

 down such a tendency 

 to female produce that 

 her youngest grand- 

 daughter is the forty- 

 seventh female. 



The prepotency of 

 the Shorthorn is very 

 marked, a characteristic feature of the long-established breed. 

 Shorthorn bulls used on grade herds reproduce the dominant 

 features of the breed in no uncertain measure. Shorthorn pre- 

 potency is shown in two striking ways — in the large pure-bred 

 herd, where females of various tribes are brought together, and 

 in the important stockyards, where large numbers of Shorthorn 

 grades are to be seen. In either case the outstanding features 

 of the breed are clearly to be seen. 



Notable recent American Shorthorn sires. The history of the 

 Shorthorn is necessarily associated with many sires of distinct 

 importance. Among those that may be regarded as leaders since 



Fig. 97. A fine Shorthorn matron and calf on an 

 Ohio pasture. From photograph by the author 



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