Morris tribune., 1880-07-01
History Of the short-Horns.

History Of the ShOrt-HOrns.
One hundred and fifty years ago few
If any short-horns were to be found out
of the counties of Northumberland,
Lincoln, Yorkshire, and Durham, Eng
land. The best were located in the
valley of the river Tees, in the last
history that any progenitors of the cattle
were imported into England, and as the
soil of the countries above named was
rich, well adapted to the growth of the
best grasses, perhaps our blue grass, and
affording the very best pasturage for
cattle, the climate favorable, etc., it is
altogether probable that these natural
advantages rapidly developed the best
qualities of the c, lie of that locality,
which enhanced tIasur marketable value
greatly, and whao.l doubtless induced
their owners to adopt a careful system
of breeding, and prompted a generous
supply of food for winter and summer,
whereby they had acquired great dis
tinction as early as ITO, when new era
dawned on the history of short-horns.
About that time two brothers, Robert
and Charles Colling, young men, en-
barked in the business in Durham
county, England, who by skillful breed
ing and management, brought their
herds to such state of perfection that
it is doubtful whether any herds have
exceeded them, even to this day. They
accomplished this by judicious system
of in-and-in breeding, and it is well
known fact that the best herds in Eng
land and America are descended from
progenitors bred by them. Mr.. Charles
Colling bred the celebrated Durham OK
about 1890. He was roam in color, aid
in his fifth year weighed 1924 pounds.
He was exhibited in nearly all of the
agricultural counties in England, was q
prize winner wherever he was exhibited.
and his owner refused $4,000 for him.
The brother, Mr.. Robert Colling, in
1906, bred the white COW called "The
White Heifer That Travelled" because
she was exhibited in all of the agricul
tural counties in England and won prizes
wherever she went.
AS early as 1855 Messrs. Cough 4
Miller imported from England some
short-horns to the south branch of the
Potomac, and tradition says some cattle
descended from these and from some
other importations were bred and
brought to Clark county, Kentucky, an,
were there kept, and the bulls bred On
native stock in that section of the State.
They were the first imported cattle
brought to the State, so that Clark
county was the first in the State to en-
gage in the improvement of cattle which
some of the citizens have kept up, and
| now there are number of very fine and
large herds owned in said county.
Among them is that of Mr.. Abram
Renick's herd of Rose of Sharons not
surpassed, certainly, and perhaps not
equaled by any herd on either CONT
nent. He has recently received medal
| from England as the breeder of the best
short-horn COW of her class in the King
dom. He has sold many cows to English
purchasers.
In 1847, Col. Lewis Saunders, of Grass
Hills, KY, a gentleman of fine education
and very general information, attracted
by the high prices realized for the short
horns OF Mr.. Chas. Ceilings sale in 1910,
imported eight head of short-horns from
the valley of the river Tees, England
four bulls and four heifers, all reds
| They had all the characteristics of SUI
perior short-horns, and came from the
locality of the best of the breed, and
great care was observed in the selection
of them. But they came without written
| pedigrees, because there were no herd
books at that day in England. The
ouls were bred on the heifers, and a
humber Of very fine animals we're pro.
duced, and in 1880 their progeny were
numerous in Kentucky and Ohio, and
very highly priced. No other importa
ton was made to Kentucky directly
from England until about 1888, when
Mr.. Walter Dun, of Fayette county, i'm.
ported one bull and five cows. In 1885,
Mr.. Dun, in connection with Mr.. Sam
Smith, made second importation O.
three bulls and four COWS, and in 1885
Mr.. Dun imported two COWS with bull
calves. These cattle, or greater par
of them, were sold off at high price
| among farmers of that section.
In 1886 importation of shert-horn
company of gentlemen living near Chill
these importations were purchased an(
brought to Kentucky.
In 1880 Rev. r. I. billiard and MI
Nelson DUDLEY were sent to England
by the Fayette county, (Ky.) Importing
Company, and purchased about 40 head
which brought remunerative prices a
| CHclf sale Ill LoAulSCOu. Nu1uUcIS VI
cattle were imported, to Kentucky be
tween that period and 1856 directly fron
England, TIE late r. A. Alexander, 0
Woodburn, Woodford county, havin
imported more than any one man.
| After these importations and their de
scendants were dispersed among breeder
illiberal and unjust detractions wer
published and circulated against Co
! Saunders importation of 1917. By whom
these detractions were originated knoS
not, but doubtless by some who hopes
to benefit themselves by culminatin
sheir neighbours stock. The cry wa
that they had come here without ped
grees, when at that day the sires an
dams of their own herds were in tn
same condition. They were, however
but too successful in their persistent dc
traction in placing the It's on leve
of high grades in Kentucky, by whic
means some other breeds without thei
intrinsic merits have been pulled int
fictitious and even fabulous prices, be
cause some interested parties woul
declare they were fashionable.