Acerca deste livro
A minha biblioteca
Livros no Google Play
HISTORY
OF
POLLED ABERDEEN OR ANGUS
CATTLE
GIVING
AN ACCOUNT OF THE ORIGIN, IMPROVEMENT,
AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BREED
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
ORIGIN OF DOMESTIC CATTLE.
Disagreement as to origin of domestic cattle-The ox in prehistoric
times-The Bos urus-The Bos longifrons-Domestic cattle de-
scended from one or the other, or from both-Opinion of various
naturalists: Rütimeyer, Cuvier, Bell, Boyd Dawkins, Darwin,
Storer, Owen, Dr John Alexander Smith-Are the urus and the
longifrons really distinct species ?-Practical value of the dis-
cussion-Probability of domestic cattle coming from one com-
mon source "-Low on variations in cattle,
PAGE
1
CHAPTER II.
ORIGIN OF POLLED RACES OF CATTLE.
Speculation as to origin of hornless cattle-Their antiquity-Their
distinctiveness-Letter from Darwin on loss of horns-Letter
from Dr John Alexander Smith - Professor Low's opinion-
Absence of horns-Deviation from original form-Loss of horns
before and after domestication-Preserved and fixed by selection
in breeding-Acquaintance with principles of breeding in early
times-Advice of Palladius, Columella, and Virgil-Distribution
of polled cattle-Polled cattle in Austria, South America, Nor-
way, and Iceland-In Cheshire, Lancashire, Nottinghamshire,
Norfolk, Yorkshire, Devonshire, in England-In Ayrshire,
Lanarkshire, and Isle of Skye, in Scotland-In Ireland-Exist-
ing polled breeds in United Kingdom-The Galloway breed--
Norfolk and Suffolk polls,
11
CHAPTER III.
ORIGIN AND EARLY HISTORY OF THE POLLED ABERDEEN OR
ANGUS CATTLE.
Scotch domestic cattle derived from aboriginal wild breed-All one
variety-Differing according to conditions of life—Origin of polled
Aberdeen or Angus breed-Natives of their present home-Loss
of horns-When?-Probably centuries ago-Polled cattle in An-
gus in 1752, in 1757, in 1797, and in 1813-Youatt on Angus
polled cattle-Polled Galloways in Angus-Polled cattle in Aber-
deenshire in last century-Keith and Williamson on Aberdeen-
shire cattle Youatt on ditto "Native low country" and
"Buchan humlies " the same breed-Letter from Mr Macpher-
son, Huntly, in 1832-Polled Galloway cattle in Aberdeenshire
-Early polled breeders in Aberdeenshire-Improved breed direct
descendants of Angus doddies and Buchan humlies-The latter
two same variety-Loss of horns,
25
CHAPTER IV.
IMPROVEMENT OF THE BREED.
Little inducement to improve cattle a hundred years ago-Beef at
one penny per pound-Rearing cattle for farm-work-Introduc-
tion of Holderness and Fife breeds-Demand for beef-Working
cattle abandoned - Improvement of native races— - Choice of
polled variety as beef cattle-Improvement of polled cattle in
Angus-Operations of Mr Hugh Watson, Lord Panmure, Earl of
Southesk, Mr William Fullerton, Messrs Mustard, Mr Bowie,
and others Improvement of the breed in Kincardineshire-
Operations of Mr Walker, Portlethen, and others—Improvement
in Aberdeenshire-The efforts of Mr William M'Combie of Tilly-
four, and others - Introduction of Shorthorns -The crossing
craze-Improvement in Banff and Moray-The Ballindalloch
and other herds - Encouragement by Agricultural Societies to
improvers of polled cattle - The 'Polled Herd Book'- The
Polled Cattle Society,
-
. 45
CHAPTER V.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BREED.
Early characteristics of the northern polls-Two varieties in Buchan
-The effect of early crosses with Shorthorns-The colour of the
breed—“ Scurs ”—Shapes, size, and symmetry—Increase in size
-General improvement in form, &c.—Comparison of polled and
Shorthorns-Full description of a typical polled animal-Com-
parison with Galloways-The breed's surpassing beef-properties
-Excellent quality of its beef-High value of polled crosses-
Early maturing-Weights and prices of polled oxen-Milking-
properties-Wide and growing reputation of the breed-Great
increase in value, .
72
CHAPTER VI.
NOTES ON SOME EARLY POLLED CATTLE.
Inaccurate entries in vol. i. of Polled Herd Book'-Statement by
the late Mr Fullerton, Mains of Ardestie, on breeding of cow
Black Meg 766 and bull Panmure 51-Communication from Dr
Simpson, Marykirk, regarding sire of Panmure 51-Mr Collier,
Hatton, on the breeding of Panmure 51-Errors in entries of
Keillor cattle-Confusion as to bulls Old Jock 1 and Grey-
breasted Jock 2-Account of the Keillor Jocks-The Keillor
cows Favourite and Beauty-Supplementary information re-
specting the pedigrees of the bulls Monarch 44 and the Tilly-
four Victors,
CHAPTER VII.
EXTINCT HERDS.
THE KEILLOR HERD-Old Grannie 1-Her remarkable career, and
list of her calves-The Kinnochtry Princesses, Baronesses, and
Emilys Mr Watson's cows Old Favourite and Favourite 2-The
Kinnochtry Favourites - Beauty of Tillyfour 2nd 1180-The
Wellhouse Ruths and Ballindalloch Jilts-Mr Watson's Beauty