702 = 456 
Pastoral Hushandnj. 
various districts of England, some reference to the specii 
characteristics of the most important breeds of English catt 
is unavoidable. Each of them has its special merits, and i 
advocates maintain its superiority. 
Much care and attention have been bestowed upon the bree«! 
. ing of cattle in the last fifty years, and the result has been 
great improvement, not only in special breeding herds, but 
the general character of the stock of the country. 
The Shoithoni The Shorthorn breed of cattle stands before all others, both 
breed of cattle. pQ^jjj q£ numbers and general usefulness and profit. Cultiva 
* with judgment, they possess large level frames well covered wi 
flesh, great aptitude to fatten, early maturity, and excell 
quality of beef, combined with great robustness of constituti 
and, under proper care and management, excellent d* 
properties. Even where dairy produce is not sold, the pos 
sion of dairy properties is of great value in enabling cows 
rear satisfactorily their own offspring. 
Shorthorns are also admirably adapted for crossing wii 
animals of other breeds, or of no particular breed. Very fii 
beef-animals are every year produced by crossing the Scotc 
breeds with the pure Shorthorn ; and a good well-bred Sho 
horn, if put to common cows of no particular breed or sped 
merit, will generally get stock far superior to their dams in siz 
form, and quality. Shorthorns are the prevailing breed in 
north of England ; but pure-bred herds exist in every county 
England. 
I will only cursorily describe the management of a pedigr 
herd, where the object is the production of a first-rate anim 
regardless of cost. Ample box and yard accommodation is pr 
vided. The cows are not often expected to do much more th; 
rear their own offspring, even if they do this without help. 
The calves, which are dropped at all times of the year, usual 
run with their dams, being allowed to go on the pastures, wh( 
fine, except in winter, and being brought into boxes at nigl 
They are early taught to eat linseed-cake, and bean-meal wi 
hay and cut roots. 
The bull-calves, except those decidedly inferior, are deemc 
too valuable to be reared as bullocks, and are kept for stoi 
purposes and sold at from 9 months to 18 months old, either 
home or at one of the auction-sales now held every spring 
Birmingham and other central places. 
The Birmingham Show and Sale held in March every yej 
at which more than 250Z. is given in prizes, has, with excelle 
management, proved a great success. From 200 to 300 youi 
bulls of pure pedigree, and many of them of great merit, ha 
been sold each year, at an average price; of from 35/. to 4< 
1 
