108 
Management of Aberdeen Angus Cattle. 
folly of having kept them in the herd so long, which is another 
valuable lesson for the future. 
There is, further, the opportunity of finding out if the animal 
were free or otherwise from tuberculosis. This disease is now 
recognised as an infectious one— in my experience it is also 
hereditary — therefore, if found post mortem, every means should 
be used to free the herd from its taint. The question is one 
that must be faced, and the disease should at any rate be purged 
from every pedigree herd in the kingdom. 
Conclusion. 
The Aberdeen Angus breed has many good properties. In 
the first place, there are no horns to disturb and injure other 
animals, and consequently more cattle can be kept in a given 
space than is the case with horned animals ; it is astonishing 
what a number of them can live comfortably together in a fold. 
They are “ good doers.” In Aberdeenshire they are said to get 
fat in winter on “ neeps and strae ” (turnips and straw), and 
there is no doubt they do well when so fed ; but in the high- 
lying lands the “ neeps ” are scarce, and the foddering of straw 
is supplemented by an out-rake upon the heather-clad hills of 
their native homes. The calves are strong and easily reared, 
the breed matures early, and they finish at the highest quotation 
as “prime Scotch” in the London market. Even the old bulls 
and cows market well, for they rarely look old. 
Finally, in the management of a pedigree herd a careful, 
steady, experienced herdsman is all-important — that is, unless the 
owner takes absolute charge himself, which is not often the case. 
The herdsman is always on the alert, nothing escapes his eye, 
and his experience guides him as to what is best to be done 
under all circumstances. He is acquainted with the peculiarities 
and habits of the different animals and families, and thus knows 
that what might be considered important in some animals 
is of no consequence in others. No herd can be successfully 
managed unless the herdsman loves his cattle, and is as much 
interested in their well-being as their owner is, or even more so. 
I began this paper by saying that although it deals with the 
management of an Aberdeen Angus herd, much of it might be 
applicable to other breeds. How far this has been so I must 
leave to my readers to judge ; but I will conclude by giving a 
hint upon a matter that may not be generally known, and that 
I am sure will be found useful to all who have to do with cattle. 
Cattle might be taught to have their feet lifted and held up 
in the same way as horses, but their training has not yet been 
