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