History of Hereford cattle, proven conclusively the oldest of improved breeds

Front matter

T . i_. ivi I I. I. e: F^

HISTORY

OF-

Introduction

"I have just returned from a trip to the Paeilic Coast, and everywhere on the western ])lains found the Whitefaces conspicuous. And they h:)ol': well wherever they are to be seen. 1 know they liave a magnificent future. I am not a boomer, but this is a great country and I feel assured that our present prosperity willcontinue. It has always been demonstrated that Here fords are great cattle wherever grass grows, and the settlement of this irrigation problem now agitating the West will convert the desert into pastures and open up vast areas to cattle raising. The more grass, the more Hereford cattle will be needed, and with all due respect to other breeds, I venture the assertion that Herefords w-ill make more beef on grass than any other breed of which I have any knowdedge."

When we consider where and by whom the sentence above quoted was uttered, and the unequalled sources of information and experience that led to this conclusion, we feel, that at last, the Hereford breed of cattle is coming into its own.

The speaker was Mr. Alvin H. Sanders, Managing Editor of the greatest live stock publication in the world, namely, the "Breeders' (Gazette," Chicago. The occasion was the reduction sale of the Weavergrace Herd, at which, in Chicago, Tuesday, March 2."Jth, 1902, was gathered one of the largest representative companies of Hereford breeders the country has ever seen. With all due respect for the work of individuals in popularizing pure breeds of live stock, their work without the aid of the agricultural press must of necessity be limited in its influence. The leading advocates of Hereford cattle in America ever fully realized the influence of the agricultural press, and as far as they could have endeavored to utilize it in spreading a correct knowledge of the Hereford breed.

The inlluence that utilized the power of the agricultural press to propagate injurious theories, and their success in that direction, are thoroughly set forth in the body of this work and need not be discussed further here. We are glad to say, however, that conditions and influences, existent at the time the "Breeders' Gazette" was founded, have largely disappeared.

Nothing shows plainer the present unprejudiced position of the ■'Brceder.s' Gazette" than the fact that it has been accused by prominent speakers in important meetings of Shorthorn breeders of being partial to the Herefords; that on several occasions adherents of other breeds have asserted that the "Gazette" leaned toward the Aberdeen-Angus "Doddies," while complaints that the "Gazette" was a Shorthorn paper have been frequent. Each breed in turn, prompted by some activity of its rivals (fully reported in the "Gazette"), exhibiting its inborn jealousy.

The statement that "Herefords will make more beef on grass than any other breed," made by Mr. Sanders, has been made repeatedly by Col. F. M. Woods, the celebrated live stock

WELLINGTON COURT. NEAR HEREFORD.

auctioneer, whenever he has conducted a sale of Herefords. Similar statements have been made on hundreds of occasions by that other favorite auctioneer. Col. E. E. Edmonson, who for years was the idol of the Kentucky Shorthorn breeders. This "Kentuckian 'of Kentuckians" not only makes this assertion in words, but backs it up in action, having become an extensive breeder of Hereford cattle on his Texas ranch. These are not to be counted straws to show wdiich way the wind blows, but rather may be considered goodlysized weather-vanes, known and seen of all men, for without commenting on the influence of these two great auctioneers we can say of the "Breeders' Gazette" under the management of Mr. Alvin H. Sanders (so ably assisted by the greatest master of English language that ever graced an agricultural editor's chair, William R. Goodwin, Jr.), that its influence has been greater than all others combined; for the "Gazette" of recent years has been the pattern copied more or less successfully by all other agricultural journals. The Herefords now get a fair and impartial hearing; not as a matter of suft'erance, but of right. All that their late champions, Messrs. Wm. H. Sotham and T. L. Miller, fought for has been accorded, but there is much yet to be gained before the beneficent influence of Hereford blood, upon the prosperity of the cattle trade of the world, is completely felt.

NEW HOUSE. KING'S-PYON, HEREFORDSHIRE. (Rear view.)

Much disappointment in years past has followed the use of the bloods of certain breeds of cattle erroneously pushed into prominence. Farmers have tried animals of certain fancy and fashionable strains of ])lood, and found the results of their use inferior to that obtained by the use of plainer bred animals to be had for less money, so that Hereford breeders even at this late day receive daily inquiries from farmers for prices on "good individual" animals for farm use. The inquirer usually adding that he does not care for a "fancy pedigree." A well-bred Hereford, if he has had care siifficient to develop his inherent good qualities, should invariably be a "good individual," for a well-bred Hereford is descended from good individual ancestors, and like should produce like. The "good individual" character of the ancestor makes the "good pedigree." There is nothing in Hereford breeding to compare with the "line-bred Erica" or "Pride" of the Aberdeen-Angus, or with the "Absolutely pure Bates" and "straight Scotch" of the Shorthorns. The same individual excellence which recommends a Hereford to the breeder for the improvement of a pure-bred herd is the acme of perfection sought by the breeder of steers; and the same lines of blood produce the improvement desirable in both places. In other words, it is primarily the province of the Hereford breed to improve the beef cattle of the world, whereas with other breeds the prime object appears to be the upbuilding of certain lines of blood for speculative purposes.

For centuries the Hereford breed of cattle has been bred for the production of the highest quality of beef — under the most natural con- (iitions — at the lowest possible cost. Held largely during these centuries by tenant farmers who bred them exclusively for practical purposes, theory, fancy and fashion have always been obliged to give way to the practical wants of pasture and feed lot. The Hereford breeder ever preferred the useful to the useless, and, therefore, despite any and all claims of other breeds, the Hereford must be considered the "Utilitarian Cattle," and having this backing of unparalleled usefulness, the Hereford cannot fail to hold every position gained, and last, as a prime factor in the ]U'oduction of the world's beef, when all other breeds are forgotten.

The writer had it from his father (born in 1801), who was on intimate terms with the greatest Herefords lireeders of the past century, that the Hereford was the oldest of all the recognized breeds of British cattle. The writer at all times asserted this truth on the strength of the information so gained, but feeling that he should have some indisputable data to back up his assertion, he has earnestly sought for absolute, unimpeachable jiu})lie records. Thanks to the untiring efforts of Mr. W. H. Bustin, of the city of Hereford, England, we are able to back up, with such undeniable proofs, every assertion along this line that we have made. Mr. Bustin prepared a manuscript, the following copy 'of which explains itself. The facts brought out by Mr. Bustin ought really to have been incorporated in Mr. Miller's history, but as this could not have been done without meddling with Mr. Miller's order and

[jlau, I have deemed it best to leave Mr. Miller's work just as he prepared it, and to incorporate Mr. Austin's manuscript in this introduction, so that Mr. iiiller's history, while remaining intact, may Ije supplemented and corrected in the light of this further reliable information :

SOME FURTHER NOTES ON THE

ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF

THE TOMKINS HEREFORDS.

As Managing Trustee of the King's-Pyon C!harities I had occasion to examine the old parisli books to clear up certain obscure points relative to these ancient bequests. When thus engaged I came upon much additional information about the Tomkius families living in the parish and neighborhood during the eighteenth century. These old records show that they took an active part in parochial affairs as Overseers, Church-wardens, Road and Bridge Makers, Apprenticing the Poor, etc. A careful study of these documents with the parish registers, added to what I already knew about these old cattle breeders, enables me to give a tolerably clear idea of their work and the ])art taken by them in the development of the cattle associated with their name that was so famous. Read by the additional information I obtained, the confused statements of eminent authorities on Hereford cattle history can be understood. The question has been so often asked. "Did Tomkins found the Herefords?" and answered in the affirmative and denied that these fresh facts may be of interest to those connected with the world-wide famed Whitefaces.

As early family and cattle history are closely interwoven together, it will be necessary to trace them concurrently, giving exact names and dates. It was owing to Pi'ofessor Low not having carefully followed this course when inquiring into the origin and development of the Tomkins Herefords that his account of it was confused and chronologically inaccurate. When Low wrote his "Domesticated Animals of the British Isles," about 18i0. he inquired as to the origin of the improved Hereford cattle, and found it centered in the Tomkins family, more especially in Mr. Tomkins of Wellington Court, near Hereford. He a]ii)arently hastily collected some general information about the life and work of what he lielieved to be one man and applied it to Benjamin Tomkins, Jr., for as a matter of fact there were two men of that name of Wellington Court, father and son. Low was not aware of this and treated their woi'k as that of one man, namely, B. Tomkins, Jr. Unfortunately, subsequent writers accepting his account as correct, committed the same mistake. This serious error remained uncorrected until Sinclair wrote the "History of Hereford Cattle" in 1885, when the writer pointed out to him Low's mistake. Time did not then allow me to minutely trace the matter, although it was of the greatest importance. This I have now done and am able to correct Low's explanation of facts. Low's confused account of the origin and development of the Tomkins Herefords was evidently due to the Misses Tomkins.

It is well known in the family that they quite idolized their father, B. Tomkins, Jr. In their estimation no one could do anything like him.

Twenty-five years after his death, 1840, when inquiry was made, they ascribed all the

improvement of the cattle to him, altogether forgetting what they might have heard about their grandfather's share in the work.

They led Low, Eyton, Yeld and others to believe that the famous cows "Mottle" and "Pigeon," as well as the "Silver Bull," were selected by their father, whereas overwhelming evidence goes to prove that these ty])ical animals were the ones that their grandfather liegan with in 1742, and were the foundation of the Tomkins breed.

The late W. A. Walker of the Upper House, Wormsley, born in 1797, remembered B. Tomkins, Jr., and remembered the talk about the Tomkins cattle having obtained considerable notoriety many years before B. Tomkins, Jr., was married, in 1772. Likewise, Miss L. (jalliers, born 1809, well remembered her grandfather, AVilliam Galliers, at Frogdon, talking about the intimacy between B. Tomkins, Sr., and her great-grandfather, William Galliers of

1 N T R U D U (J T 1 N

KINGS-PYON CHURCH, NEAR HEREFORD.

Wigmore Grange, born 1713, and the superiority of their cattle long before B. Tomkios, Jr.'s, marriage. These recollections and many facts that will be mentioned clearly prove that the systematic improvement of the Herefords was begun by the elder B. Tomkins in 1742.

It will be seen on referring to Sinclair's History of Hereford Cattle that when Kichard Tomkins of the New House Farm, King's- Pyon, died in 1723, he lefjt seven children — six sons and one daughter. The eldest, Miles, was nineteen and the youngest, Thomas, was three years old.

He "left to Eicbaril, his second son, a yoke of oxen, named "Spark" and "Merchant," with ten acres of land. To his fourth son, Benjamin, a cottage and land and a cow called "Silver" with her calf. The others were left small sums of money, and his widow, Catherine, the little New House Farm for life, making her his sole executrix. His will was proved in the Consistory Court at Hereford.

He doubtless had good reason for leaving these cattle to Eiohard and Benjamin. Richard being nineteen was old enough to be teamster and was left his team. Benjamin being nine years old would be old enough to take an interest in the cattle, possibly wishing to possess the Silver cow and calf, which his father afterwards left him by will. This would be calculated to give him additional interest in the cattle and dairy, probably tilling the office of cattleman for a time.

Having two brothers younger than himself, he necessarily would have to leave the small farm when one of these were old enough to take his place and seek a situation in the particular line he had followed at home. This he apparently did, as all the sons but one were brought up to be farmers, and Professor Low was informed that Mr. Tomkins married his employer's daughter. Low does not give the source of this information, but it certainly would not come from the Misses Tomkins.

We find by the parish records that B. Tomkins, Sr., married a Miss Ann Preece, of Alton Court Farm, in the parish of Dilwyn, in 1742, and began business at the Court House Farm, Canon-Pyon.

In Low's words:

"Mr. Tomkins when a yoimg man was in the employment of an individual, afterwards his father-in-law, and had the especial charge of the dairy. Two cows had been brought to this

1 N T R U D U C T I N dairy, supposed to have been purchased at the fair of Kington, on the confines of Wales. Mr. Tonikins remarked tlic extraordinary tendency of these animals to become fat. On his marriage he acquired these two cows and commenced breeding them on his own account. The one with more white he called 'Pigeon' and the other of a rich red color with a spotted face he called 'Jlottlc." ""

Further he says: "He then began a system of breeding that ultimately completely altered the character of the Ilerefords." Low applied this information to B. Tomkins, Jr., who married his first cousin Sarah, daughter of Eichard Tomkins, of Wormsley Grange, in 1773. Family tradition and the King"s-Pyon register attest "that his father died in 1T48, when Mr. B. Tomkins, Jr., was but three years old, consequently he could not have been in the "employment of an individual, afterwards his father-in-law;" nor is it likely that Low's informant would call his first cousin ''daughter of an individual." This expression may well have been applied to the elder man's wife, as in the lapse of years her father's name would most likely have been forgotten. It may lie retorted that it was the widow who employed him, but Kichard Tomkins left three sons, Eichard, George and Thomas, aged twelve, eight and two years respectively. All were brought up as farmers, so that the widow could not have at any time required the services of her nephew when old enough even to manage for her. As to his over being employed as a dairyman, the idea is ab.surd, for his father, as will be shown, had only two sons, and was a well-to-do man at the time.

Many other circumstances prove this portion of Low's information to refer to B. Tomkins, Sr., on his marriage in 1742. Low not knowing that there had been two of the same name applied it to the son, on his marriage in 1772.

Again, Professor Low in his "Practical Agriculture" (184.3) writing of Hereford cattle, says: "The breed owes all its celebrity to changes began about the year ^760. The great improver, or rather it may be said, the founder of the modern breed, was the late Mr. Tomkins of King's-Pyon. near Hereford, who, from a very hundde stock of cows, but by means of a long course of skilled selection, communicated to the breed its most valuable distinctive characters."

There is unmistakable evidence that the Misses Tomkins let T^ow believe that it was all the work of their father, consequently it is not surprising that he did not harmonize facts and dates when applying them all to the younger man. Low here says the changes began about 17GU. This was nine years before the younger man commenced business (as will be shown later on) and twelve years before his marriage in 1772, yet, as previously quoted, Low says he commenced the improvement on his marriage, evidently referring to the elder man.

It is greatly to be regretted that Low never seriously attempted to harmonize his facts and dates. If he had done so he must have discovered at once the existence of B. Tomkins, Sr., and given a chronologically correct history of the origin and development of the Tomkins cattle. The correction of his remarkable mistake quite allies the hitherto accepted ideas as to when the systematic improvement of the Herefords began, which was in 1743, not 1773.

COURT HOUSE, CANON-PYON, HEREFORDSHIRE.

Tomkins was at work improving the Herefords nearly a quarter of a century iDcfore Bakewell began to improve the Longhorns, and a much longer time before the Brothers Colling, the Shorthorns; consequently Bakewell followed Tomkins, not Tomkins Bakewell, as has been generally asserted and believed.

Thus the Herefords are the oldest improved breed of cattle in the kingdom.

B. Tomkins, Sr., had evidently formed the idea of developing a superior breed of cattle to any then extant some years before his marriage in 1743.

On his marriage he was able to set about it in a systematic way, having already selected the materials. He began with the three distinguishing color types of the Tomkins 'cattle, namely, the Silvers, reds with white faces, the mottles and the greys. These three type names were applied to the Herefords for more than a century, unfortunately giving rise to endless controversies amongst breeders about breed.

Low says Tomkins acquired the cows

"Pigeon" and "Mottle" on account of their extraordinary tendency to become fat, qualities most likely not manifest in his Silvers, which we infer would be more of the large bony type, suitable for draught purposes, like the majority of the cattle were at that time. The rising importance of our manufacturing and commercial interests would be creating an increased demand for butcher's meat. Young Tonikins saw in this a new sjjhere of usefulness and profit in cattle other than the yoke and pail. He saw manifest in these two cows some of the characteristics he desired to conserve and intensify for this purpose. Fortunately, we know under what conditions these cows fed so rapidly. Artificial foods were not used in those days, and the Alton Court pastures are by no means feeding lands, yet their cows quickly became fat on them, having most likely come off the still poorer Welsh Hills; at any rate they apparently fed much more rapidly than any of the others under the same conditions.

Tomkins was impressed with this, and conceived the idea of raising up a race of cattle that would readily fatten on inferior food. As the grass at the Court House partook of the same character, he for upwards of twenty years carried out his works on inferior pastures.

Although Bichard Tomkins was but a small yeoman farmer, the minute books of King's- Pyon show that the family received a good education at a time when many of the middle classes could not read nor write, and the peasants were wholly imeducated.

All the sons appear to have been enterprising, as they soon became established on farms in the neighborhood: Miles at the Hill in 1727, Richard at Wormsley Grange in 1734, Benjamin at the Court House in 1743, George at Wooton in 174(5; John, known as "Butcher Jack," as a butcher in Canon Pyon, afterwards joining the army as a life guardsman. The daughter married Oakley, a farmer in Canon Pyon, and the youngest son, Thomas, remained with his mother, subsequently going with her to Calverhill Farm, in the parish of Norton Canon. This shows that there were a whole colony of the family farming in the neighborhood when B. Tomkins, Sr., was at his work of improvement, and we know that all these men and their descendants acquired the Tomkins cattle.

B. Tonikins, Sr., had only two sons who lived to grow up, Thomas and Benjamin, born 1743 and 1745. He had one daughter, who married Williams of Brinsop Court, brother of Williams of Thinghill Court. Both these men won prizes for cattle at the early Hereford shows.

When B. Tomkins, Sr., increased his holding by taking Wellington Court, in addition to the Court House, in 1758, his two sons were fifteen and thirteen years old, by which time he had become comparatively well otf, chielly by the sale of his improved cattle that were then in possession of all the farming members of the family and many others throughout the country. His most intimate friend, William Galliers of Wigmore Grange, had a fine herd founded on the Tomkins breed, as it was already called. This was in the recollection of members of the family still living when Sinclair wrote his history. From the foregoing it will be seen that B. Tomkins, Sr., was not only the first who systematically improved the Herefords as beef producers, but was actually the founder or originator of the improved breed, and pioneer improver of cattle in these islands on systematic lines. He worked for nearly fifty years, 1748 to 1789, and his son B. Tomkins, Jr., worked with him for more than thirty of them, continuing for twenty-five years after his father's death.

Unlike Bakewell, he was a quiet, steady worker, accumulating means rapidly, without pushing himself for public notice. This characteristic was even more pronounced in his son, whose name seldom appeared, but when challenging the boastings of contemporary breeders, whom he never failed to silence. Tliis, in some measure, accounts for the great value of their work not being publicly recognized until years after, when the glamour of the famous sale at the Brook House in 1819 drew universal attention to the younger man's work, quite obliterating the elder, by merging his life into that of the more conspicuous figure of his son. In the meantime their improved cattle had been quietly absorbed and helped to build up without exception all the famous old herds that it has been possible to trace back to their foundation.

Soon after going to live at Wellington Court in 1758 B. Tomkins, Sr., relinquished the Court House to his eldest son, Thomas. The younger son, Benjamia, appears to have remained with his father iintil on his contemplated marriage with his first cousin he took the Blackball farm. King's Pyon, 1769.

Writers have been uncertain as to the exact date when B. Tomkins, Jr., began business at the Blackball. The parish books of King's- Pyon show this date, as the last signature of his predecessor appears in 1768 and B. Tomkins, Jr.'s, first signature in 1769. B. Tomkins, Jr., undoubtedly had his select breeding cattle from his father's herd at Wellington

I X T R D U C T I N

Court. Boing the favorito son lu> would have his pick of the best of them, and the two herds were afterwards bred conjointly for twenty years, when on his father's death, in 1789, he aequired the stock and farm at Wellington Court. In the meantime B. Touikins, Jr., had acquired the Court House and Brook House Farms, King's-Pyon, in addition to the Blackhall, so that the father and son together occupied three and for a time four farms from (iSO to 840 acres in extent. How closely they worked together is shown by his having his father's stock and farm on his death. The lives and work of father and son were so intimately blended together that no wonder after many years succeeding generations, without close inquiry, regarded their work as that of one man. The father worked for 47 years (from 174"3 to 1789) and the son for about the same number (1769-1815), and they worked together for about thirty of the seventy-three years of their joint breeding career. This occupying of several farms with separate homesteads enabled them not only to keep more cattle, but to kec}) the dift'erent strains distinct in dilTerent places, enabling them to carry out tlieir system of line breeding without necessarily using very near affinities.

It has been imagined that they inbred their cattle very closely, but this idea is not justified by facts. It is well known that they bred all the bulls they used, and that they kept several at each homestead, thus enabling them to cross in their own herds from selected variations in desired directions without close in-breeding. They likewise had a wide family circle breeding the same variety of cattle, which gave them a still wider range for the exercise of their judgment and skill.

When working alone we know that these two men achieved a most marvelous success. What must have been the power of their united judgments during the thirty years they worked together?

Eyton says, 1846: "The Misses Tomkins have been in possession of the same breed without a cross since the period of their fathers dcatli. They were in the habit of keeping four or live bulls and whatever is bred from their stock mav be relied upon for the purity of the blood."

Here we have evidence to show that the Misses Tomkins continued to follow their father's and grandfather's system of breeding in the male line for over thirty years after his death on a single farm of less than 300 acres.

Kyton says further: ''During the latter ])ortion of Mr. Tondvins' life he used none but bulls bred by himself, and did not cross with, any other stocks.""

As Eyton was here treating the work of the two men as that of one he should have said: "During the latter portion of Messrs. Tomkins' lives they used none but bulls bred by themselves, and did not cross with any other stocks."

When B. Tomkins, Sr., practically ceased crossing from outside sources is uncertain, but most likely it was about the time he took Wellington Court, in 1758, as there were then herds of Tomkins cattle more or less pure-bred at the Hill, Xew House, Weobley's Field, Wooton, Court House, Canon Pyon, Wigmore Grange, and probably other places outside the family circle. How quickly successful he was is thus shown by the early and rapid spread of his cattle amongst members of the family.

Eyton says: "The bull which is often referred to as 'Silver Bull' he always considered as the first great improver of his stock. There is a prevailing opinion respecting this bull's name, that it was given to him because he was of a silver or grey color, but the fact is that he was a red bull, with a white face, and a little white on his back, and his dam was a cow called 'Silver.' "

I ISr T R D U C T I N

Eyton, like Professor Low and others, did not know tliat he was treating the work of two men as that of one; referred this information to B. Tomkins, Jr., but it must have concerned liis father, whose stock had become famous many years before the son began business in 1769. The father evidently at an early period of his career bred this bull from descendants of the Silver cow his father left him in his will in 1730.

Sinclair has shown that the red, with the white face, color markings for cattle were fashionable in the country before the death of Lord Scuddmore in 1671, and Eichard Tomkins esteemed them fifty years after in 1720, since his favorite Silvers were thus marked, so that the taste for these colors dates back much further than has been genei'ally supposed. Their system of breeding was essentially the same as that followed by Hereford breeders at the present time, only over a more prescribed area. In one respect it was the opposite, since they always bred the bulls used instead of purchasing them. In their case this was necessarj', as there was no reliable source to procure them from outside their own herds, in fact no cattle so good as their own to improve them with were outside their own herds.

Professor Darwin says: "The power of man to accumulate the slight variations of our domesticated animals in a given direction by constant selection is very considerable. The im- Ijrovement begins by crossing different types, and is afterward continued by constant selections from the varieties produced. When a cross is made the closest selection is more necessary than in ordinary cases between good animals of an established type or breed. To accumulate these slight differences, absolutely inappreciable to the ordinary observer, acquires an accuracy of eye, touch and judgment that not one in a thousand ])Ossesses. A man endowed w'ith these qualifications, who devotes a lifetime to the work, will effect great improvements."

This work the two B. Tomkins were pre-eminently fitted for, as they carried it out with consummate skill and success, which the sale in 1S19 demonstrated. They seemed to have intuitively grasped the physiological law enunciated by Darwin a hundred years after, "that given an equal amount of pureness of blood, the male animal possesses a greater amount of accumulated variation in a given direction than the female."