Shorthorn herds in Ireland, 1903, by Robert Bruce

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librarian

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This is for the folks who helped me get to know some of the Irish bulls of not so long ago.

We were on the subject of the continuum of body types from milking to beef, and I wanted to show a picture of a bull that makes me think of the "smoothness" attributed to Columbus.
I find it very interesting that this bull is a blend of milking and beef breeding. 
The photo is from a handbook written by Robert Bruce in 1898.
FOOD SUPPLY A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK FOR THE USE OP COLONISTS AND ALL INTENDING TO BECOME FARMERS ABROAD OR AT HOME
ROBERT BRUCE
AGRICULTURAL SUPERINTENDENT TO THE ROYAL DUBLIN SOCIETY
BEING VOL II OF THE NEW LAND SERIES ENGRAVINGS FROM PHOTOGRAPHS OF REPRESENTATIVE ANIMALS ILLUSTRATING THE CHIEF BREEDS OF LIVE STOCK
http://books.google.com/books?id=sFEMAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA42&dq=robert+bruce+ireland+agriculture+shorthorns&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ZE8_UpKgBq2-4AOu8oHQBA&ved=0CFQQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=robert%20bruce%20ireland%20agriculture%20shorthorns&f=false

Also, on the topic of Irish Shorthorns, Robert Bruce, as Agricultural Superintendent Royal Dublin Society, wrote a manual in 1903 to assist farmers using Shorthorn sires to breed up their cattle in Ireland. From the manual,
"The Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland are making great efforts to improve the Premium Bulls quality of the cattle of the country through the introduction of pure bred bulls into districts where the small farmers have hitherto had to depend upon the use of nondescript sires. For a number of years the Royal Dublin Society administered public funds in the improvement of cattle and considering the small sum annually available for this purpose the great amount of good which has been done in many districts is universally acknowledged. Under present circumstances the Department are in a position to render its scheme for the improvement of cattle an important factor through the length and breadth of Ireland. Following mainly on the lines formerly carried out but with very enlarged powers and means at its command the action of the Department will no doubt tend in a few years to rid the country of the cross bred sires still too common in many districts. Under the schemes of the Department small farmers have a right to the service of selected pure bred sires at a fee of one shilling for each cow so that in course of time no one can claim that he is obliged to use a cross bred bull on the score of expense."

This bulletin has some really excellent photographs of turn of the century Shorthorns in Ireland. I wonder if these animals are behind what we know as "Full Irish"
OFFICIAL COPY DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION FOR IRELAND JOURNAL Shorthorn Herds in Ireland  YEAR NO 3 MARCH 1903 Vol III No 3
http://books.google.com/books?id=8B1IAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA403&dq=robert+bruce+ireland+agriculture+shorthorns&hl=en&sa=X&ei=FVE_UqCHL6rB4AOvrIEQ&ved=0CE0Q6AEwBjgU#v=onepage&q=robert%20bruce%20ireland%20agriculture%20shorthorns&f=false



 

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librarian

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Yes, it's kind of funny.  I found these bulletins just by chance when I first started trying to learn about Scotch Shorthorns.  I had never heard of Robert Bruce.  I thought, wow, this is really well written. 
Bruce's blueprint for breeding, simply laid out in the farmer's manual, has been my primary education in all this.
Also fun to look at is Breeders Gazette.  Stuff like this.
http://books.google.com/books?id=6KA5AQAAMAAJ&dq=robert%20bruce%2050%20years%20among%20shorthorns&pg=PA141#v=onepage&q=robert%20bruce%2050%20years%20among%20shorthorns&f=false

it's faster to hit the thumbnail icon to sort thru the pictures
 

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