The Cecil Whig., 1880-05-29

grass 10 lallcn lOr llc SnalnDleS, winch
is rapidly and economically done. Their
beef ut this age is equal to any; and if
fed from calf-hood till three years old, it
is then considered by some little supe-
rior to Short horn or Hereford. On the
abundant pastures and in the rich corn
fields of the West the size of the Devon
has been increased, and they are usually
marketed there for slaughter at the same
age as the lIerefords, not being worked
there in the yoke so much us at the east.
The cows are unsurpassed in the dairy
when bred for this purpose. The Earl
of Leicester had a large herd on his Nor
folk estate, which was among the best of
land, and others in the United States.
are equally celebrated.
The color of the Devons varies from Il
changeable crimson to a bright mahogany
red. \ white switch adornS the TAIL and
patch of white occasionally marks the
udder of the cow, especially of those
which are the greatest mixers. The
skin is a rich yellow, with orange-colored
nose and rim round each eye. The horns
of the bullocks are long and lofty, like
those of the Hereford. They are beau
tiful animals, and so fine in shape, high
bred, and blood like as to be an orna-
ment to any landscape.
| now come to a race a few only of
which have as yet been imported into the
United States. These are the Black
Polled Cattle of Scotland the finest and
most improved tribe being called the An
gus. They are a pure glossy black, the
largest of them about the size of Here
fords, quite as good in all their points.
and mature at thesamc age. They make
the best of beef, lose only a small per-
centage i'll offal and are perhaps the
most economical of all for the produc-
ton of meat. They are extra hardy,
and as capable as a buffalo of enduring
all sorts of rough weather. The cows
give milk enough Of rich quality for
raising their calves to weaving time.
which is sufficient for the purposes of the
ranchman, who breeds only for beef
There are other tribes Of polled cattle
in Scotland us well as in England, and a
mixed variety i'll our own country, which
would answer tolerably in assisting to
stock the Western plains. and if crossed
Il,
of the progeny would be considerably in
creased, and made much more valuable
to the breeder and grazier
Short-horn cattle have become such fa-
vorites throughout our Northern, Mid
die, and Western States and Territories,
and are really SO superior to all other
races for general purposes, | am aware
that their intelligent breeders will not
be easily persuaded to change them for
others. But when we consider what an
eXhauSter the growing of horns is of
phosphate from the soil-its most pre-
cious element; how dangerous horned
cattle are to both man and beast, when
0i'"iiS op' SiS'io'toiN iilt
not unfrequently causing death; what an
objection to close packing in railroad
ears or on board ship: and what an in
jury and discomfort to themselves and
each other in goring, and locking horns,
and getting them entangled in their fast
enings, and being thereby thrown down
and 10 I1nl II hn Il
sired to substitute the polled for them.
There would be so considerable an econ
omy in thus doing that | shall not be
surprised to see a gradual change hence
forth going on of horned beasts for these
throughout the country.
No doubt good race of polled cattle
could be reared and marketed at from
five to ten per cent less cost than the
best bred of our horned beasts: and if
SO, this would be a saving of many mil
lions annually to the breeders. glazers.
and feeders throughout the land. More
over. they could be marketed in so much
better condition, especially when ship
ped to Europe, that both the flesh and
hides would command higher price,
and this, again. would be a considerable
additional profit.
But some contend that lofty-curved
horns are great ornament to cattle,
endowing them with more noble pres
ence; yet whether IA horned or hornless
animal shall be most admired depends
greatly on education. Those who are
brought up among the latter dislike the
former as an ugly excrescence and dan
serous to the person, and on no account
would have them among their herds.
The breeder and grazier, however, is not
to consider what is most admired, but
what will be the most useful and profit
able.
Millions and millions of hornless sheep
have been reared for centuries past in
Great Britain, and in the eyes of their
ilock-masters are considered hardsomer
as indeed they are-than horned, and
on no account would they change them
for the latter, even if they were less
profitable: but inasmuch as they are
found to be considerably the most profit
able, they enjoy Il double advantage in
making up their tlocks exclusively of
these beautiful polled animals.