HISTORY OF POLLED CATTLE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2696, 28 November 1882, Page 3

HISTORY OF POLLED CATTLE.

In the volume on “ Polled Cattle ” just issued in Scotland, wo note the following in relation to the early history and charao- j teristics of the breed, which will be found interesting. The author says : It has been disputed whether they should be regarded as the degenerate descendants of the great urus, the magnified progeny of the slender longifrons, or the composite product of these two. There has also been discussion as to whether they have been derived solely from the aboriginal wild cattle of ancient Britain, or partly from these and partly from domesticated cattle introduced from the continent of Europe. There would seem to be strong reason to believe that the latter idea may be applied correctly to several of the English breeds. With the more truly Scotch races, however, the case is different. It is hardly possible, we think, for any one who has become acquainted with the early history of the country, and with the works and circumstances bearing upon the origin and domestication of British farm stock, to avoid arriving at the conclusion that the foreign element could have had but very little to do with the formation of the existing races of Scotch cattle. At present four distinct breeds have their headquarters in Scotland—namely, the Ayrshire, the polled Galloway, the polled Aberdeen or Angus, and the Highland or horned breed. The first—a valuable dairy breed—has undoubtedly been to a large extent, if not wholly, derived from the introduction of foreign cattle, probably either of the Alderney or Holderness races. The other three are in the fullest sense of the term native Scotch cattle. It is right, we think, to regard them as the true lineal descendants of those wild aboriginal cattle that roamed through the forests and marshes of ancient Caledonia. Whether those wild aboriginal Scotch cattle, from which the existing races were derived, were of the urus or the longifrons type, we need not, perhaps could not, determine. Differing in minor points in accordance with the variances in the climate and other conditions under which they have been reared, they would still seem to have been so nearly alike in all the chief characteristics which distinguish races from each other, that, they ought to be viewed as belonging to one large well-defined group or type. Even yet, after having passed through long ages of widely different treatment, they present such strong similarities as afford substantial proof of their reputed common origin and close affinity. Those marked distinctions which they have come to display are, with the exception of that striking peculiarity, the want of horns, exactly such as might be calculated to arise from the variations in their respective conditions of life, more particularly from the divergencies in the mode of treatment to which their owners have subjected them for many generations, nay, even for centuries. It would seem that in the ancient horned domestic cattle of Scotland there had been a tendency to those “ spontaneous variations” that result in the loss of horns. We have seen that throughout the country numerous hornless varieties have appeared from time to time, most of them in such localities and under such circumstances as preclude the idea of their all having sprung from one offshoot, and force the conclusion that each represented a fresh departure or distinct “sudden organic change.” We have learned from Johnson and Pennant that about a century ago there were hornless cattle in the Isle of Skye and in the county of Sutherland. Of these all traces have been lost. Youatt has told us that about the middle of the eighteenth century there were “ some” polled cattle in the old district of Galloway. These, it has been seen, have developed into an important and well established breed, bearing the name of its native district. A mass of evidence has made us aware that, late in the last century and early in the present polled cattle were pretty well diffused over certain parts of the north-east corner of Scotland. Prom these have come in direct desent the famous breed whose history and characteristics we have set ourselves to trace. In relation to characteristics and crossing the authors quote from Mr William Forbes, Newark Brick-Work, Ellon, whose grandfather was a farmer in Buchan, and bred polled cattle, who says : —“ The cattle in Buchan about half a century ago and earlier might be said to have consisted of horned and polled black cattle in about equal proportions. The polled cattle were of two classes, one large and another small. I knew the small kind well. They were rather puny creatures, always thin in flesh, and very badly used. They were preeminently the crofter’s cow, as they were able to live through the winter on the straw of oats and bere, and water, if necessary. Of the larger portion of the cattle, about one-half were jet black, excepting the udder, which was usually white, and often the whole underline was white. They could not stand starvation as well as the small polls, but with better treatment they gave a heavier yield of milk. When creamed, however, their milk was thinner than that from the small cows. A considerable portion of the cattle were largesized, well-fleshed, brindled polls; and these were the finest-looking animals in Buchan. When well fed, they had a short glossy coat of hair; some’ were good milkers, but some went to flesh and fat instead of milk. A few were of a dull red color, but they were not so high in favor as the brindled cattle. The polled cattle were- the dairy stock. The butter they produced was very fine in summer and autumn,, but hard and white in winter. The establishing of a beef trade with England, and the introduction of Shorthorn bulls and turnip husbandry, opened up a new era for Buchan. The native cattle fattened well, and money was made by doing so. Shorthorn bulls were introduced, and put to all kinds of cows. Often when a Shorthorn bull was mated with a small polled cow, the produce was a black poll of the finest character—immensely superior to either of the parents. When a heifer of this stamp was again put to a good shorthorn bull, the result was quite as fine a black poll of still larger size. If the produce were also a heifer, and mated with a pure shorthorn bull, the ;produce was still a poll, yet larger in size, but bluish-gray in color. If a heifer again, and put to a shorthorn bull, the produce was once more a grey poll, probably lighter in color. When'this form of crossing was continued further, shorthorn colors appeared, sometimes with scurs, but oftener with the regular shorthorns of the male parent. I observed this experiment tried in several cases, with exactly the same result. With the larger polls with white underlines, the horns and color of the shorthorn bull were earlier transmitted to the produce, generally at the second or third crosses. I therefore look upon the small polls without white spots as the pure original Buchan humlie.”