Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1858-02-04

OF the west, when two years old, three year
old, four years old, and five years old, a
which commite was to examine the ami
mails, weigh them, sum up the value o.
their food, and decide which had proved
the most valuable as profitable animals tc
be put in market for butchering purposes
The offer was not accepted; and it is wor
thy of remark that no trial under similar
conditions has ever been made to test the
merits of the two breeds.
In 1850, Mr.. Smythies, and English
breeder, offered a premium of five hundred
dollars, and FIVE animals, and challenged
the breeders of all Britain to compete with
him, and they might have the choice Of
any of the numerous breeds of that coun-
try to select from. The offer was never ac-
copied. During the last twenty years
there have been several like challenges
made, but neither the Shorthorn nor Dew
on men have taken them up, the limita-
tions regarding the cost of food seeming 10
be the objection.
The snowy, fashionable, and it must be
admitted also, the real good qualities of
the Shorthorns, so striking to the partially
educated eye and taste, easily fascinated the
public judgment, and led captive both the
wealthy capitalist and the pains taking
farmer; and whenever the notion of one
breed strikes in, there is sure to be dis
position to ignore the good points Of all
other breeds, no matter how prominent
they may be, or even how superior they
might prove for certain soils or localities
Now the advocates of the Herefords claim
that they will live on harder fare, work bet
ter, feed up as quick, if not in less time,
and produce quality of beef superior to
the Shorthorn, or any other breed. That
for early maturity, they are ahead of all
other races, and that for size they came up
in many cases to the largest.
In general the Herefords are not so large
race as the Shorthorns; their height is
less, but their bodies are almost as heavy,
being very short on the leg, and generally
deeper in the chest, and hanks in proper
ton, with as good a breadth of loin back.
In width of shoulder, and fulness immedi-
ately behind that point, and the crop, there
is no where their superior. Behind, their
quarters are considered better than the
Shorthorns, except in the most carefully
bred animals; the hip being considered
longer and heavier in proportion to size,
and hence they are great favorites with the
butchers-their beef at the London mar
ket bringing generally cent per pound
more than Shorthorns. For several years
steadily, from 1888 to 1874, the Herefords
took the first prize when competing with
the Shorthorns at the great Smithfeld Cat
tie Show, in which iE some of the classes
all breeds were pitted against each other,
taking into consideration only the excel
lence of the animals, without regard to the
peculiar points for which the race are ap-
precated. Our readers will more readily
appreciate the size to which oxen of this
breed have attained, when they know the
length and girth of a few of them. In
1853, the Shorthorn OK which took the
first prize at the Smith6eld Cattle Show of
that year, girted eight feet four inches, and
was five feet ten Inches in length. At the
same show prize heifer not quite four
years old, girted nine feet two inches, and
was six feet in length. In the Hereford's
Prince Albert, the same year, showed
Hereford steer over three years cid that
girted nine feet four inches, and was only
five and halffeet in length; an OK of the
same race girted nine feet and an inch, and
was the same length as the first. Two fat
COWS at the same show, girted seven feet
eight inches, and were each five feet four in
length. At the same show of last year,
1856, Hereford cow was shown of live
weight of 2,4Os pounds. These sizes and
weights will give pretty fair idea of the
ability of this race to mature quickly and
to grow to great weight. 1t will also
show that they must possess the desidera-
tum which feeders strive to attain-com-
pactness of carcase, or great weight with
in small compass.
In this breed, however, there is draw
back, which may prove of consequence or
not, as it may be valued by those who raise
stock. They are said to be almost invari-
bly, inferior mixers, though not always so.
For Mr.. Smythies won premium of sew
enty-five dollars offered for the best COW
for dairy purposes, by the Smithfield Club
in 1887; the second prize was won by a
shorthorn. Where the attraction of breed
ers have been given to milk qualities, there
appears to be no difficulty in developing
them in the breed, but as they have been
accounted of little value, they have given
way to the properties which produce flesh. |