. History of Hereford cattle : proven conclusively the oldest of improved breeds . Hereford cattle. 294 HISTOEY OF HEEEFOKD CATTLE land were of a hardy character, and as we come afterwards to other exposed lands, we have the Welsh and the Hereford breeds of stock; then, going into more temperate districts we have the Shorthorns, and the more tender hut nimble Devons, and so on, to the Channel Islands stock. But the point is this: that all this pro- duce obtain their points of character by being brought up under certain conditions to which the}^ had adapted themselves, but when the Shorthorns w
. History of Hereford cattle : proven conclusively the oldest of improved breeds . Hereford cattle. 294 HISTOEY OF HEEEFOKD CATTLE land were of a hardy character, and as we come afterwards to other exposed lands, we have the Welsh and the Hereford breeds of stock; then, going into more temperate districts we have the Shorthorns, and the more tender hut nimble Devons, and so on, to the Channel Islands stock. But the point is this: that all this pro- duce obtain their points of character by being brought up under certain conditions to which the}^ had adapted themselves, but when the Shorthorns were sent to Scotland they were un- suited to the districts and they ; Prof. Tanner goes on to say: "Now those habits, those points of character, which were existing in the dif- ferent local breeds, were modified to meet the require- ments of more ad- vanced farming. For instance, the old system of al- lowing the cattle to remain until they were four, five, or six years old, be- fore they were completed for the butcher, gradually gave place to a much more rapid habit of growth, a growth which was more prompt and speedy throughout its en- tire range, and the result was that the ani- mal was finished and ready for the butcher at a much earlier date. The tendency of late years has, therefore, been in the direc- tion of so altering the character of the animals we breed that they become quiet and docile, quite disposed to take their food without rest- lessness, and also to make good use of the food which is supplied to them. I know perfectly well that you can appreciate the weakness of the character, both of the Shorthorn stock and also many of our delicate breeds of sheep, es- pecially the Leicester. And how has this dif- ference arisen? Largely because the alteration made, in the case of the Shorthorn cattle, in early years had been carried to an extent which has probably—but I will not say probably— which really, has resulted in their obtaining a weaker cons
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