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

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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,

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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,

-

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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