Cattle 1853 - Lewis Family Farm

116 CATTLE.
antiquity they boast." Martin says, " In Groningen, Friesland, Guilderland,
Utrecht, and Holland, a fine short-horned race of cattle has
long existed. This ancient short-horn race may in fact be traced
from Jutland and Holstein (both in Denmark), along the western
portions of Europe, through the Netherlands (Holland and Belgium),
to the borders of France. In reference to our (the English) shorthorned
breed, Mr. Culley says 'there are many reasons for thinking
this breed has been imported from the continent.' "
The great argument, however, for the continental origin is, undoubtedly,
that the short-horns, a local breed in four counties only
of England, had no congener or allied breed elsewhere in England,
but found it only on the continent, from Denmark to Belgium. The
Danes ravaged all the region from Denmark to France, for more than
one hundred years, from 850 to 950, and in 8*15 conquered the
kingdom of Northumbria, which comprised the counties of Yorkshire,
Durham, and Northumberland, in England, and held it, either independently
or by paying tribute, for nearly two hundred years, and
until subjected and incorporated with England, as one kingdom* by
William the Conqueror. At what time the short-horns were brought
to these Danish counties in England, is unknown ; but it is probable
as many as seven or eight centuries since. There is a cow sculptured
on the west corner tower of the eastern transept of the cathedral of
the city of Durham, commemorating a tradition as to the Cathedral;
and in every respect the effigy presents a short-horned cow. This
transept was begun to be built in the year 1235, and was finished
by Prior Hotoun about 1300, he dying in 1308.
But it is conceded by all authorities that the short-horns have
existed for ages in Durham ; the question is what were the means
used to improve them up to their present perfection. Some say by
selections among the race itself ; others claim that bulls were imported
from Holland, and crossed on them ; that the white wild
breed of Chillingham and Chatelherault (Cadyow) Parks, and even
the Alderneys, were used. As to the Alderney, it may be remarked
that not one of the historians of English cattle, Culley, Berry, Mar-
tin, Youatt, jnentions this cross, and therefore it is not worth refuta-
tion. As to the cross with the white wild breed, it is a mere conjecture,
and is only mentioned by Berry and Martin ; Culley says
nothing of it.
2. It is not true that, about one hundred years since, the breeders
of short-horns, in the pretended improvement, " proceeded on a
judicious system of crossing with other breeds ; and one to which
they referred was, in all probability, the white wild breed."
From the earliest period white cattle were known in Jutland,
Holstein, (Denmark,) Hanover, Oldenburgh, and Holland. From the
earliest accounts we have of the short-horn in England, the white is
known to have existed very anciently. The source then of the