Beever, An Alphabetical arrangement of the leading Shorthorn Tribes, 1880

[librarian]

https://archive.org/stream/alphabeticalarra00beev#page/n3/mode/2up

Buried amid a lot of not so compelling material in this book, are many small stories and descriptions of animals, breeders and their experiments that are unusually candid.

Also interesting is that, even then, some referred to Shorthorns as Bos composita
I'm not sure what history the author is allluding to, about the cosmopollitan breed being "But a relic of the herds of the Religious Houses". I have never read that Shorthorns were an amalgamation of the best of all breeds brought across the North Sea by Cistercion Monks.   
Nothing surprises me though, about how illustrious this breed is reported to be.
He asserts that a successful cross with foreign blood (something Continental for instance) may be but a "happy re-union of elements borrowed and lent in days gone by."
That part rings true.

 

[mark tenenbaum]

I didnt get to read the docs-which are yet another really cool find-but I have seen a number of very old paintings from Holland-with Shorthorn colored roan and RWM cattle-and they are the predecessors (according to various histories) that were first brought to England by the Duke of Earl -or somebody-And after that-they were possibly bred with the wild White cattle-(IIIIITalian Chis are STILL wild white cattle)etc-From whence-the fabled Teeeswater cattle evolved. The most certain and sustaining elemant are the color genetics-they are-and will forever be unique to Shorthorns. O0

 

[librarian]

https://archive.org/stream/farmlivestockofg00wall#page/98/mode/2up

I was wondering about the roan color monoploly when I was reading this about the English Longhorns. 
The prevailing color is described as "dark roan with black ticks through it (brindled).", and also as "red, brindled, or grizzly roan..."
It's also kind of sad to read about how the old timers of that time admit, in retrospect, that crossing the Longhorns of the Fell with Shorthorns was a mistake, as the former were better adapted to the local environment.
Further on, he talks about some Galloway breeders making a cross with "Mr. Bakewell's bulls", and Highland crosses.