Macdonald and Sinclair
Ballindalloch

It will be admitted that the premier herd of polled cattle at the present time is that
belonging to Sir George Macpherson Grant of
Ballindalloch, Bart., M.P. The herd is of very
old standing, but it is not exactly known when it was founded. The following extract from
Mr M`Combie's 'Cattle and Cattle-Breeders' sufficiently proves that an excellent herd
existed at Ballindalloch long before there was any public record of the breed.
"Perhaps," says Mr M'Combie (whose recollections would have gone back at least to
1820), "the Ballindalloch herd of polled cattle is the oldest in the north. It has been the talk
of the country since my earliest recollection, and was then superior to all other stock." In
this opinion Mr M'Combie is corroborated by all who take an interest in these matters.

We find from the catalogue of the Tillyfour sale in 1850 that the late Sir John Macpherson
Grant, father of Sir George Macpherson Grant, bought two animals of some celebrity —
viz., Matchless, whose dam was bred by Mr Williamson, St John's Wells, for ₤30, and
Victor 2nd 47 for ₤20. Sir John displayed much interest in the herd, and these purchases
show that he was even then infusing into it some of the best blood obtainable at the time.

It was not, how-ever, until the present Baronet and owner came to reside on his property
in 1861, that the improvement of the herd received that decided attention which made it
take the leading position in the country which it soon afterwards did. As a proof of how
greatly the herd has been improved in recent years, it may be mentioned that, while in
1861 only four first and two second prizes were gained at the county and district shows
with representatives of the original stock, the number of prizes gained by the herd in 1879
and 1880 was as follows: 42 first prizes, 4 special money-prizes, 13 cups and 7 medals,
besides 18 second prizes.

The first animal purchased by Sir George Macpherson Grant was Erica 843, acquired at
the Earl of Southesk's sale at
Kinnaird in October 1861 for 50 guineas. For notes on the
personal appearance of this most celebrated cow, and her performances before she left
Kinnaird, we would refer our readers to the account of that herd.

Jilt 973, another remarkably good breeding-cow, was purchased from the late Mr
M'Combie of Tillyfour in 1867 for 70 guineas. She was the second-prize two-year-old
heifer at the show of the Royal English Agricultural Society at Newcastle, and also second
at the Highland Society's show at Stirling in 1865.

Another good addition was Sybil 974, purchased at the Castle Fraser dispersion in 1871
for 63 guineas. She gained almost every prize she could compete for, including first as a
cow in 1870 at the Dumfries show of the Highland Society.

Of the Pride family, valuable additions have been made in Kindness of Ballindalloch
1412, bought at Drumin in 1873, and, that grand cow Pride of Mulben 1919, purchased at
Mulben in 1876 at 91 guineas, the highest price that had been paid up to that time for a
female of the breed at a public sale.

Other additions have been made as follows, the whole having either been prize-takers
themselves - or the dams of prize stock: Rose 3rd 925, purchased at Westertown in
1874; Maid of Orleans 2nd 1177, bought at Tillyfour in 1874; Nymph 972, who came from
Tillyfour in 1864; Madge 2nd 4180, bought at Aboyne in 1879; Kate Duff 1837, bought at
Rothiemay in 1881 for 155 guineas ; and Blackbird 3rd 3766, bought at Gavenwood, &c.

The closest attention has without intermission been bestowed on the selection of sires,
in the belief that as to a great extent "like begets like," the stock sire should be of the very
best breeding, combined with the best shapes that can be obtained, and in no case
without good form in every point.

Craigo 260, got by a Balwyllo bull, and out of a cow bred at Keillor, was followed by King
Charles 236, bred at Southesk, and got by the celebrated Druid 225, dam Kathleen 339.  
The next sire introduced was an animal of exceptional excellence. This was Trojan 402,
purchased at Tillyfour in 1863 for 50 guineas. Out of the Paris cow Charlotte 203, lie was
after Black Prince of Tillyfour 366. An analysis of his pedigree shows no fewer than twelve
terminations in Panmure 51. A half-brother- of Pride of Aberdeen 581, being out of the
same dam, he had by his sire Black Prince of Tillyfour 366 (out of Maid of Orleans 580
and after Rob Roy Macgregor 267) more of the Queen and Panmure blood than even his
celebrated sister. In fact there have been few, if any, better bred specimens of the Queen
tribe.

Trojan was also individually of very superior character. He won the first prize as a yearling
at the Newcastle show of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, the second prize of
the Royal Northern Society, and the third prize of the Highland Society at Stirling in 1864;
while in 1865 he was first at the Morayshire show at Elgin.

A private catalogue of the Ballindalloch states that
Trojan "did more good to the
Ballindalloch herd perhaps than any other bull that has been in it. He was undoubtedly
the first bull that gave the females the characteristics by which they came to the top a few
years after his advent, and brought out fully the special features that make the
Ballindalloch style so popular with the public."

Trojan was succeeded by the Montbletton bull Victor 493, who left some good animals.
Other sires used were the champion bull Juryman 404, bred in the herd—sire Bright 454,
dam Jilt 973; the first-prize bull Scotsman 474, bred at Tillyfour, out of Zara 1228 after Jim
Crow 3rd 350; the Erica bull Elchies 563—dam Eisa 977, sire Juryman; the Erica bull
Elcho 595—dam, Erica 843, sire Juryman; Judge 1150, who won the gold medal at Paris
in 1878—dam Jilt 973, sire Scotsman.

Of these sires, the most valued in the herd may be said to have been Trojan, Victor,
Elchies, Elcho, Juryman, and Judge. The stock of the first four were characterised by
sweetness, fineness of bone, excellent heads, for which the herd is famed; splendid
quality, and grand ribs to carry plenty of flesh on the valuable roasting parts.

The stock of the Jilt bulls have had rather more size combined with the other good
qualities. One of the sires now in use is the renowned Erica bull Young Viscount 736,
bought at the Montcoffer sale for 225 guineas, the highest price ever paid for a male of the
breed. He has won every prize he -can compete for, and being closely allied to the
Ballindalloch cattle has proved a most excellent stud bull.

Another sire at present in use is
Justice 1462—dam Jilt 973, sire Elcho 595.  This animal
is distinguished alike by the highest individual excellence and the finest possible
breeding. He was the first-prize yearling, second-prize two-year-old, and first-prize aged
bull at; Highland Society's shows.

The Pride bull Petrarch 1258, out of Pride of Mulben 1919 and after Hero 861, has also
been used lately. It will thus be seen that the three predominant strains introduced on the
male side have been the Erica, Jilt, and Queen. Many of the sires used having also been
bred in the herd; line-breeding has been pursued to a certain extent, although it has not
been carried to an extreme point:

Distinguished success has been achieved in the building up of families at Ballindalloch.  

The place of honour in ' this respect must be accorded to the Ericas, of Keillor origin.  Of
Erica's calves, eight have been registered, four of each sex. These are Eisa 977, by
Trojan 402; Erica 2nd 1284, by Chieftain 318; Enchantress 981, by Trojan 402; Ella 1205,
by Kildonan 405; Guardsman 658, by Windsor 221; Cup-Bearer 451, by Trojan;
Exciseman 473, by Victor 403; and Elcho 595, by Juryman 404. Erica continued to breed
till September 1873, when she died at the age of sixteen years.

Eisa 977 won the second prize as a cow at the Highland Society's show, at Dumfries in
1870, when she was placed next to Sybil 974. Next year, at Perth, she gained the first
prize, and is remembered as a remarkably sweet, ladylike, evenly balanced cow. Indeed
it- is doubtful whether, for genuine feminine character, quality, and symmetry, a finer
specimen of the breed has been seen since.

Eisa's daughters Eva 984 and Echo 2976 have also been prominent Highland Society
winners, and have bred remarkably well. Enchantress 981 was the first prize as a two-
year-old and second as a cow at the Highland Society's shows in 1871 and 1872, and as
left a numerous and excellent progeny.

Of the-other two Erica females out of the foundress of the tribe, one, was sold. Erica 3rd
1249, out of Erica 2nd 1284, went to Mr Duff, Hillockhead. Among her descendants
we/may note the splendid bull Young Viscount 736, first Highland Society's shows in the
yearling, two-year-old, and aged classes, the champion at Kilburn, not to speak of
numerous other honours; Erica 4th, 1697, sold to Lord Airlie for 101 guineas; Miss
Macpherson 1252, a grand milker, who also went to Cortachy; St Clair 1160, first-prize
yearling and two-year-old at Highland Society's shows ; Essence 4547, bought by Lord
Southesk from Mr Hannay for 100 guineas, and winner of the second prize as a yearling
at the Highland Society's show in 1881. Ella 1205, the fourth daugh¬ter of Erica, was
bought by Mr Macgregor Garline, and her offspring are also deservedly appreciated.

The Erica bull Elcho 595 has the reputation of being one of the best heifer-getters of the
breed, and left many excellent calves in several herds.

Space will not permit us to enumerate the whole of the famous members of this
fashionable family, but enough has been said to explain how it has come to be justly
regarded as one of the choicest strains of polled cattle. At the Aberdeen show of the
Highland Society in 1876, an Erica was first in the class of aged bulls; another first in the
class of two-year-old bulls; and another second in the class of cows.

The Jilt family has been more distinguished for the, production of bulls. Like the Erica
sort, it is based on Keillor blood, Jilt 973 having been out of Beauty of Tillyfour 2nd 1180,
bred at Keillor, and after the Queen bull Black Prince of Tillyfour 366, who, -as already
observed, was the of Trojan, so closely associated with the improvement of the herd.
When Jilt was sold at the Tillyfour sale in 1/867, she was in calf to Bright 454, another son
of Black Prince of Tillyfour 366, and the produce was Juryman 404, first-prize two-year-old
and first-prize aged bull at the Highland Society's shows. From Jilt was also bred Judge,
the first prize bull at Paris in 1878, and Justice, another first Highland Society bull.

All these animals have, as we remarked, been used in the herd. Among the more noted
female produce of Jilt may be mentioned Jewel 1413, Jewess 1916, and Juno 3374.

The Sybil tribe, although it has also bred well, has scarcely come so prominently to the
front, the cows Siren 1915 and Sprite 3796 being perhaps its most noteworthy female
members. The older families at Ballindalloch have also bred extremely well. That tracing
from Miss Burgess 1198, bred in 1861 by Mr Burgess, Slack of Ballindalloch, can count
among its members Bertha 980, the first-prize cow of the Highland Society at Stirling in
1873; Bachelor 690, the winner of two third prizes at Highland Society's shows, and one
of the most successful sires of recent years; Birthday 3373, who gained the second prize
at Paris, and the first prize as a two-year-old at the Highland Society's show at Perth in
1879; and Maid of Aven 2995, the first-prize cow at the Highland Society's show at Stirling
in 1881.

The Lady Fanny and Coquette families have also yielded some fine stock, and the
Nosegay family is famous for superior milking qualities. These three families trace to the
original stock at Ballindalloch. The Pride cows, more recently introduced to the herd, have
bred admirably.

Kindness of Ballindalloch 1412, is one of the best cows of the family she represents, and
is dam of some superior stock, while from Pride of Mulben 1919 has sprung a few of the
highest priced animals of the breed.

Besides a large number of private sales, there have been three public auctions at
Ballindalloch. At the sale in 1872 the average for 19 head was £35, 18s. 5d., highest
price, $63 ; in 1876 the average for 21 head was ₤47, 15s., highest price, ₤84 ; and in
1879 the average for 37 head was £24,12s., highest price, £52, 10s. The last sale
comprised few members of the choicer strains in the herd, and was more of the nature of
a weeding-out sale than the others.

We understand that since the autumn of 1881 to May 1882 twenty-three animals were
sold privately for ₤1874, an average of over ₤81.  Twelve of these were bulls, and they
averaged over ₤50.

In order to fully appreciate the excellence of the Ballindalloch herd, one has to see the
animals gathered together at their picturesque home, the Warlaby of the polled breed. It
is a treat that no admirer of cattle will ever forget to inspect this large herd and trace the
family character running through every group. Polled breeders are proud of Ballindalloch,
and hope that the herd there may long occupy the pre-eminent position to which the
exertions of Sir George Macpherson Grant and his ancestors have brought it.

When we obtained our information regarding the herd in May 1882, it was composed of
over one hundred animals with several cows still to calve. There were 32 Ericas, 24
females and 8 males ; 14 Prides, 10 females and 4 males ; 9 Jilts, 6 females and 3
males ; 1 Sybil ; 2 Miss Burgesses 16 Lady Fannys; 3 Nosegays; 5 Westertown Roses ; 2
Montbletton Mayflowers; 5 Rothiemay Georginas; with members of other families.

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