History of Aberdeen-Angus cattle

769 Pages·2009·18.93 MB·English

by  Macdonald, James, 1852-1913

Pkoto byJ. Riisxcll and Sons.}
His i.ate Majesty Kin'g Edward VII.
(BornNovember<;, 1841—Died May6, 1910.)
[Sincethetextofthisvolumewasprinted,thenationhashadlomournthedeathofHisMajesty
King Edward VII., who was Patron of the Aberdeen-Ang'is Cattle Society, and maintained an
Aberdeen-AngusherdatAhergeldie. ThereferencestohislateMajesty'sinterestin thebreed,given
elsewhere,mustnuw,alas,bereadintliepasttense.]
HISTORY
OF
ABERDEEN -ANGUS
CATTLE
BY
JAMES MACDONALD
SECRETARY OF THE HIGHLAND AND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND, ETC.
AND
JAMES SINCLAIR
EDITOR OF THE "LIVE STOCK JOURNAL," ETC.
REVISED EDITION BY JAMES SINCLAIR
ILLUSTRATED
LONDON
VINTON & COMPANY, Ltd.
8, Bream's Buildings, Chancery Lane, E.G.
191 o

PREFACE TO REVISED EDITION
The first edition ofthe Histoiy.ofthe Aberdeen-Angus Breed
was published in 1882, under the alternative title "On Polled
Cattle." It was noteworthy for the fact that it was the first
systematic account of any breed of cattle that had ever been
.
written. The general subjectoflive stock had frequentlybeen
elaborately treated by many able authors, and individual
breeds had been incidently dealt with but the work "On
;
'Polled Cattle" broke new ground, inasmuch as it was almost
exclusively devoted to one variety and recorded its rise and
progress, the foundation and career of prominent herds
and the practice of breeders, with a comprehensiveness and
minuteness that never before had been attempted. The book
on its appearance was appreciated by supporters of the breed,
and in a few years it was out of print. Inquiries have
frequently been received from breeders in many countries for
a new and revised edition and now, through the courtesy of
;
Messrs. William Blackwood and Sons, who published the
earlier work, the authors have been enabled to comply'with
these wishes.
When the book was first given to the public in 1882 the
Aberdeen-Angus breed, by reason ofits inherent meritsand its
unique successes at the Smithfield and Paris shows, had
A
begun to spread beyond its native districts. few herds had
been started in England, and one or twosupporters had stead-
fastly adhered to it in Ireland, while the United States and
Canada had commenced to secure high-class specimens of a
variety that had then firmly established its reputation for the
economical production of beefof unsurpassed quality, and as
an impressive factor in blendingwithother races for theattain-
ment of this object. But, after all, it then remained mainly a
PREFACE TO REVISED EDITION
vi
local variety, enthusiasticallyadmired bybreeders inthe North
of Scotland, and especially in Forfarshire, Kincardineshire,
Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, and Morayshire.
In the twenty-eight years' interval the breed has extended
its territories in a marvellous manner. It has spread all over
the United Kingdom, while in the United States of America
breeders can be reckoned by the thousand. To give in the
revised edition of the History full effect to this wonderful
international development (while maintaining and complet-
ing the interesting and instructive records of historic herds
of the past, and those old-established ones that still exist,
as well as many since formed), was no easy task. It has been
considerably lightened by the editor having had placed at
his disposal manuscripts on the subject prepared some years
ago by Mr. James R. Barclay, who, since penning these
excellent historical sketches, has been appointed Secretary
of the Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society. His contributions
have been freely utilised throughout the book and Mr.
;
Barclay has further rendered valuable assistance in its
preparation.
Many breeders have also co-operated in the compilation
of the revised edition, while the aid of Mr. Robert Bruce,
Mr. James Cameron, Mr. George Hendry, Mr. John Neilson,
and Mr. J. H. D. Beales is specially acknowledged. The
practical interest manifested by Sir John Macpherson Grant,
Dr. Clement Stephenson, Mr. John Macpherson, Mulben,
Mr. Andrew Mackenzie, Mr. James Kennedy, Mr. G.
J.
Walker, Mr. J. J. Cridlan. Mr. T. H. Bainbridge, Mr. Albert
Pulling, Mr. Hum. Bland, and many others, has been very
helpful. In connection with the illustrations thanks are
due to Susan, Countess of Southesk, Miss Fullerton (daughter
of Mr. Wm. Fullerton), Miss Ferguson (daughter of Mr.
Thomas Ferguson), Mr. Robert C. Bowie (son of Mr.
Alexander Bowie), Mr. Gavin Ralston, Mr. W. S. Ferguson,
Colonel Chas. M'Inroy, C.B., Mr. John Black, Mr. i^rchi-
bald Whyte, Mr. Robertson, Panmure Estates Office, Mr.
Peter Henderson, Mr. R. W. Walker, Portlethen, etc.
It is hoped that the Historyin its new and much extended
PREFACE TO REVISED EDITION
vii
form may prove a useful book of reference to breeders, and
that it may be the means of acquainting stockowners at
home and abroad with facts concerning the foundation,
improvement, extension and substantial merits of the
Aberdeen-Angus breed, under which title the famous
" Angus Doddies" and " Buchan Humlies " of remote
antiquity have long been known, and are now of world-
wide,fame.
S.
J.
April, 1910.
«2

————
CONTENTS
CHAPTER
I
ORIGIN OF DOMESTIC CATTLE
— PAGES
Disagreementasto—originofdomesticcat—tle TheOxinpre-historictimes
The Bos urus The Bos —longifrons Domestic cattle descended from
one orother,orfromboth Opinionsofvariousnaturalists: Rutimeyer,
Cnvier, Bell, Boyd Dawkins, Darwin, Storer, and Dr. J.A—. Smith
Are the urus and the—longifrons really distinct species? Practical
value of the discussion—Probability of domestic catt—le coming from
"one common source" Low onvariations in.catt.le V.iews.of.later
authorities Professors McKenny Hughes, Boyd Dawkins, James
:
Wilson,J. Cossar Ewart, and Mr.J. C. Lyell 1-16
CHAPTER n
POLLED RACES OF CATTLE
— —
Speculation as to origin of hor—nless cattle Their antiquity L—etter from
Darwin on Los—s of Horns Letter—from Dr. J. A. Smith Professor
Low's opinion— Absence of horns Loss of horns befor—e and after
domestication Preservedandfixedbyselectioni—nbreeding Acquaint-
ance with princip—lesof breeding in earlytimes Adviceof Falladius,
Colu—mella, Virgil Distributionofpolledcattle—Probablyanancestral
type P—oUed cattle in Austria, South America, Norway, and
Iceland In Cheshire, Lancashi—re, Nottinghamshire, Norfolk, York-
shire, Devonshire, i—n England —In Ayrshire, Lanarkshire, and Isle
of Skyei—n Scotland In Ireland—Existingpolledbreedsinthe United
Kingdom TheGallowaybreed Norfolkand Suffolkpolls . 17-30
CHAPTER
III
FOUNDATION OF THE ABERDEEN-ANGUS BREED
—
Scottish dom—esticated cattle derived from aboriginal wi—ld breed All one
variety Differ—ing according to—conditio—ns of life Natures of their
present homes Loss of horns When? Probably centuries agos—
"Angus Doddies" or polled c—attle in 1752, 1757, 1797, and 1813
YouattonAngus po—lled cattle Polled cattle at Culter in Aberdeen-
shire prior to 1523 Keith and W—illiamsononAberdeenshire cattle
Youatt on Aberdeenshire cattle "N—ative low-country cattle" and
"Buchan Huml—ies" the same breed Letter from Mr—. Macpherson,
Huntly (1832) Galloway—cattle in Aberdeenshire Early polled
breeders in Aberdeenshire Improv.ed .breed.dir.ect .desc.endants of
—AngusDoddiesand BuchanHumlies—The lattertwothesamevariety
Recapitulationandconclusions 31-49
————
CONTENTS
CHAPTER IV
IMPROVEMENT OF THE BREED
PAGES
—Imorovement ofpolled cattle in Angus-Operations of Mr. Hugh
Wateon Lord Panmure, Earl of Southesk, Mr William FuUerton,
M^srs Mustard, Mr. Alexander Bowie, Sheriff Patrick Chalmers
^Tldtaandothers-Improvementof thebreedin Kincardineshire-
OmootSehreartsfi-noInnAstbreoorfddufMcerti.ilosnRhooibfreerS-thTohWreatlhekofefrronr,tss-PToorhftelMecrtrh.oesnsW,iinlgalncidraamozteMh-eIrCmsop-mrIbomivpeermoeavnnetd-
TpGnrraoBnvaten)iffoafnadnAdboeMtrohdreereasny---EATnnhcgoueusBraaclgaletitmnledaenl-tlTohbceyhhAaebgrredircd(uSeliterunrG-aeAlonrgsogucesieMtHiaeecsrpdhteoBrosioomnk-
—TheAberdeen-AngusCattle Society 50-7»
CHAPTER V
SOME NOTED EARLY ANIMALS
Entries in original edition of Vol. I. of Herd Book—Explanations as to
paesditgoreberseeodfisnogmeofnoctoewdaBlnaicmkalMse—gSta7t6e6meanntdbybuMlrl.PFaunUemrutroen,5A1r—doCvoime,-
munications from Dr. Simpson, Ma—rykirk, regarding sire of Panmure
51—The entries of Keillor cattle Confusion as to Old Jock i and
Grey-breasted Jock 2—Account of the Keillor Jocks—The Keillor
cows Favourite and Beauty—Supplementary information respecting
thepedigreesofthebullsMonarch44andtheTillyfourVictors . 72-«3
CHAPTER VI
HISTORIC HERDS
—
The Keil—lor herd Hugh Watson—the first breeder to establish a regular
herd —ThecowOldGrannie i Herremarkablecareer and listof her
calves —Foundation of—the Kinochtry —Princesses, Baronesses, and
Emil}s OldFavourite Emily—andErica TableofKeillorfam—ilies
Famous bulls bred at Keillor—Ardovie and Ard—estie herds More
about Black Meg and Panmure The Qu—eentribe Earlo' Bu—chan
Mr. Fullerton'slossesbypleuropneumonia The Tillyfourherd Cows
ownedbyWilli—am M'Combie in l85o-s-Queen Mothe—r and her illus-
trious offspring Mr. M'Combie's—systemof breeding Table showing
descendants of Queen Mother348 The—Pride of Aberdeen family
Remarksonfamousanimals—atTillyfour Mr.M'Combie'sunparalleled
success in the show-yard The Kinnaird he—rd—Its antiquity—De-
scriptionof the earlypolled cattle at K—innaird The Earlof Southesk
andtheherd——Hisimportantpurchases No—ted bulls bred and u—sed
Sale of Erica The Mains o—f Kelly herd One of the earliest Mr.
Bowie's system of breed—ing Cupbearer, Hanton, and other famous
bulls—TheBalwylloherd Itscharacteristics andnotedfamilies 84-128
————————
CONTENTS
xi
CHAPTER VII
OTHER FAMOUS HERDS OF THE PAST
PAGES
Aberlour M—ains (Mr. W. Robert—son), Kildonan-Ericas and the Honesty
family Aboyne Castle herd—TheMarquisof Huntly's se—rvicesto the
breed and their—recognition Sketch ofleading animals Madge of
Portleth—en 1217 Altyr—e herd and its suc—cesses at Fat Stock—Shows
in 18—81 Ardgay herd The Zara—tribe Auchnaguie herd—Baads
herd Successful—in show-yards T—he Sybils and Halts Prince
Albert of Baads Ballintom—b herd Balquharn herd—M—r. H. D.
Adamson's a—im in breeding —-Successful sale in 1881 Benholm
Castle herd Br—idgend herd M—r. Auld's famous—collection of
Tilly—four families Cairdseat h—erd Etonian a—nd Iliad Castle—Eraser
herd Positi—onintheshowyard Drumin herd —Noted families Duff
House herd Remarkable success in exhibi—tion Montbletton herd
TheMayflowers, Blackbirds, andLadyIdas Herds at Easter Skene,
East Town, Easter Tulloch, Fyvie Castle, Guisachan, Haughton,
Haddo House, Johnston, Melville, Mains of Advie, Methlick, Min-
more, Rothiemay, The Thorn, Waterside of Forbes, Wellhouse,
Westertown: Famil—ies established by Mr. George Brown and his
methodsofbreeding Otherextinctherdsin Scotland . . 129-203
CHAPTER VIII
PRESENT DAY HERDS IN SCOTLAND
—
The Royal he—rd at Abergeldie Ma—ins Interest of Ki—ng Edward VII. in
thebreed Auchorachanherd Ballindalloch herd —The oldest in the
North of Scotland and premier her—d of the breed Its improvement
under SirGeorge MacphersonGrant Principal purchases—Erica843,
Jilt973, S—ybil974, Kindness of Ballindalloch 1412,—Pride of Mulben
1919, etc. Trojan402andhis—influenceontheherd YoungViscount
736thechampionbullofhisday ^FamiliescultivatedatBallindalloch
Ericas, Jilts, Pride—s, Sybils,MissBurgesses,LadyFannys, Coquettes
Sales and Pr—ices The Ballindalloch herd during the last quarter
of a century Noted sires, Iliad, Prince Inca, Eltham, Prospero of
Dalmore,—Bion, Prince Ito, Delamere,—Eblito, Jeshurun,—Eblamere,
Edensor Famous Ballindalloch cows Ball—unie herd Balquhain
M—ains, and West Ba—llochy herds—Balthayock Banks——Blairshinnoch
Bruckla—y Castle B—urushangie —and Mains of Gavel Careston
CoUithie Conglass Cort—achy The—successful sale—of 1882
Coynachie and Drumfergue—Craighead CuUen House Dalmeny
Dalmo—re—The Lady —Idas Doonholm—Ear—nside-Fasque—Forglen
Mains Glamis Castle Show-yard su—ccesses Harviesto—un Castle
Hatton Castle—Hayston—Inchgower Kin—ochtry herd Established
a—bout 1835—Close connection with Keillor Noted sires and families
Morlich—TheJemimas—(Queentribe)—Mulben (Mr. John Macpher-
—son)—Pitfour—Portlethen Esta—blished priort—o.181.8—F.amou.sfamilies
Spott and Hatton of Eas—sie The Burn Championships at fat
stockshows—WesterFowlis Otherherds 204-286
CHAPTER IX
THE BREED IN ENGLAND
Attention attracted by successes at breeding and fat stock shows
ANsusmoecriaotuison—heDrrd.sCelsetmaebnltisShteedp—hTehnseonE'nsglhiesrhd AatbeBradlelieonl-CAonlgluesgeCaFtatrlem