286 CATTLE 



breed the colors were variable — brindle, brown, striped, and red 

 being common. A century or more ago, according to Professor 

 Wilson,^ there were colors and markings among them riot now 

 seen at all, such as dun, yellow, " silver-colored yellow " as given 

 by Youatt, and white stripes along the back and belly. Thirty 

 years ago a red calf, a calf with white face markings or with 

 white flecks on the body, was not uncommon. At the present 

 time, however, pure reds are occasionally seen, and white about 

 the rear of the underline is rather common, but the process of 

 selection and improvement has fixed more and more firmly the 

 uniform solid black color now so characteristic of the breed. The 

 subject of color is given official recognition by the. American 

 Aberdeen-Angus Breeders' Association, for under the rules 

 "males red in color, or with a noticeable amount of pure white 

 above the underline, or on leg or legs, or with scurs, shall not 

 be eligible to entry for breeding purposes." A black cod is pre- 

 ferred in the bull, but white udders with cows, with some white 

 between navel and udder on females, are not objectionable. Red 

 cows may be registered, however, and also black ones with small 

 white spots on head, body, or legs. 



The weight of Aberdeen- Angus cattle compares favorably with 

 the Shorthorn and Hereford, although as a rule they are not quite 

 so heavy. In 191 2 B. O. Cowan gave some interesting compari- 

 sons of Aberdeen-Angus and Shorthorn weights as taken at the 

 American Royal at Kansas City and at the International at 

 Chicago.2 At the former show, in bat one of twenty-four classes 

 did the average weight of the Aberdeen-Angus entries equal that 

 of the Shorthorns. In senior yearling bulls the Aberdeen-Angus 

 average was 1473 pounds and the Shorthorn 1467, while 29 three- 

 year-old Aberdeen-Angus bulls averaged 1970 pounds and 41 

 Shorthorns 2224 ; 27 two-year-old Aberdeen-Angus bulls aver- 

 aged 1787 pounds, 40 Shorthorns, 1917; 54 Aberdeen-Angus 

 cows averaged 1505 pounds, 41 Shorthorns 1730; 63 two-year- 

 old Aberdeen-Angus cows averaged 141 1 pounds, 46 Shorthorns 

 1530, with a corresponding advantage in favor of Shorthorns 

 in every class but one. At the International in 19 10 a similar 



' The Evolution of British Cattle, 1909. 

 ^ Breeders' Gazette, October 9, igi2, p. 722. 



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