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It's whats under the hide that counts! |
Alberta Shorthorn Association |
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Shorthorn History Reflections 200 Years At A Glance The Shorthorn breed originated in northeastern England. The first real development of the breed occured in the valley of the Tees River around 1600. On the east coast of England, just north of the bulge toward Europe, vast estates where established, and by word of mouth Shorhorn cattle populated these holdings. The Smithsons of Stanwick where one of the foremost developers of the red white and roan beasts. The twilight of the 18th century cultered great improvement in agriculture. Robert Bakewell studied the Medullan theory of genetic improvement, testing it with sheep and cattle, with great success. The forward thinkers of the cattle undustry paid visits to Bakewell, studying the improvement methods and putting them into practice. Names like Bates, Booth, Whittaker, and Cruikshank became skilled breeders that improved the breed with great success. Some of these early breaders concentrated on the milking qualities of their tribes, while other developed beef making qualities of the highest degree. Terminology of the era was, 'Bates for the pail', 'Booth for the butcher.' These segments of the breed are called Milking Shorthorn and Beef Shorthorns. Both families maybe horned or polled. The officiially recognized date for the arrival of Shorthorns in North America is 1783. This importation made the breed in great demand, and has flourished to this day. Even in early history the breed was recognized because of its ability to adapt. Bred with the Spanish cattle, brought to North America by the conquistadors many vast herds of market cattle were fed, making many men millionaires. In 1822, the first herd book was published in England, called the Coates book. It was 50 years before any other breed decided to follow similar plans. In 1846 a group of breeders from Canada and 9 states in the USA formed the America Shorthorn Breeders Society. In 1872 this Society gave way to the Dominion Shorthorn Breeders and the American Shorthorn Association. Both these organizations continue today as they did in the original state of official associations of the breed. The Dominion breeders incorporated in 1882, thus the oldest continuous corporation in Canada. Over the many years, Shorthorns have adapted to the changing needs of the cattle industry. As we close out the 20th century, cattlemen are insisting on profitable, efficient, grading cattle, and Shorthorns can provide those genetics. A recent steer evaluation test 1998-99 involved 300 head of Shorthorn and Shorthorn affluence steers, all fed in the same large pen, at Highland Feeders. These steers average 71% AAA grade, the first leaving the feed pen in March and the last in July. Shorthorn genetics are as diverse today as they were throughout the decades, enabling the breed to forage ahead, and keep abreast of all requirements.
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