Erica 843
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From Barclay - Chapter IV -
THE WORK AT BALLINDALLOCH
The great event of 1861 in the herd, however, was neither the birth of Miss Burgess nor
the birth of Nosegay, but the addition of the cow Erica 843. She cost fifty guineas at the
Kinnaird sale. Let those who revel in figures and computations try to estimate the
cumulative increment of the capital invested that day in 1861!
Volumes might be written of Erica, whose prolific family during the past ninety
years has been so liberally worked into the whole fabric of Aberdeen-Angus
breeding that a full history of Erica's descendants would be almost
equivalent to a history of every herd. Here it can only briefly be noted
that between 1862 and 1872 Erica at Ballindalloch had eight calves and that
she died in 1873 of abcess in the chest at the age of sixteen years.
Four of these calves were bulls, the first, Guardsman of Ballindalloch 658, born in April,
1862, sired by Tillyfour-bred Windsor 221, purchased in 1858 by Lord Southesk for £180
from George Brown, Westertown. Her second bull calf was Cupbearer of Ballindalloch
451 by Trojan and winner of a second prize of the Highland Society. He was born in March
1868. Third son was Exciseman 473 by Victor of Ballindalloch, born in February, 1871;
and fourth, in February 1872, her best bull calf, Elcho 595 by Juryman, a notable animal
by reason of his prowess as a breeder although almost un-known in the showyard.
He was bought in 1874 for the Advie herd where he remained until 1876 when he
returned to Ballindalloch, and there sired such famous animals as Justice 1462; Etonian
1658, the sire of Iliad; Provost 1259, a son of Pride of Mulben and eventually brought back
to Ballindalloch; and Pride of Strathspey 4182, also out of Pride of Mulben. Later Elcho
was sold to the Earl of Strathmore, who sold him after three years to Cortachy, and at the
Cortachy sale in 1886 twenty-two of the females were his daughters. Once again he
passed to Advie, and thence home for a second time to Ballindalloch where he had only
one mating with Roseleaf 2993, a Rose of Westertown cow, the progeny being the bull
Royal Elcho, calved January 1887.
Of Erica's daughters, so much greater than three of her four sons, extended mention will
be found in a later chapter. Eldest was Erica 2nd 1284 by Chieftain 318, born in 1865 ;
Eisa 977 by Trojan, calved January 1867 came next, highly commended at the Highland
Show in 1869 and first as a two-year-old at Elgin, second as a cow at the Highland and
first at the Morayshire Show, and honourable mention at the Paris Exhibition of 1878.
Third daughter, also by Trojan, was Enchantress 981, calved 1869, first at the 1871
Highland Show; and fourth and last daughter was Ella 1205 by Kildonan 405. There were
thus from a very early date three recognised branches of the Erica family—the Chieftain
Ericas, the Kildonan Ericas, and the Trojan Ericas.
The Chieftain Ericas which trace through the daughters of Erica 2nd were a great feature
of the Cortachy sale in 1882, but outside North America they and the Kildonan Ericas
have never enjoyed the same amount of popularity as the Trojan Ericas. Those who could
recall Chieftain have informed us that they thought very highly of him. From the point of
view of breeding, there was much to commend him.
Similarly Kildonan, out of the Balwyllo-bred Keepsake 427 by President, a first prize
winner at the Highland and other shows, and having for sire Black Prince of Tillyfour, sire
also of Trojan, had good breeding, and is described by one who remembered him well
as a great butcher's beast, who owing to his refusing latterly to serve had to be sent to the
block.
We are inclined therefore to think that the greater favour shown for the Trojan Ericas is
due to the fact that they were retained at Ballindalloch and carefully bred for a series of
years to the best bulls in use there. It was not until about 1886 that members of this
branch of the family were allowed to go in any numbers on the public market. In the
interval, representatives of the other branches had gone into many other hands where, in
cases, the breeding had not been so carefully arranged.
Source: The Aberdeen Angus Breed: A History, Barclay, J. R. 1958. pp 48-50
Pedigee: American Angus Association
More from Barclay here.
THE WORK AT BALLINDALLOCH
The great event of 1861 in the herd, however, was neither the birth of Miss Burgess nor
the birth of Nosegay, but the addition of the cow Erica 843. She cost fifty guineas at the
Kinnaird sale. Let those who revel in figures and computations try to estimate the
cumulative increment of the capital invested that day in 1861!
Volumes might be written of Erica, whose prolific family during the past ninety
years has been so liberally worked into the whole fabric of Aberdeen-Angus
breeding that a full history of Erica's descendants would be almost
equivalent to a history of every herd. Here it can only briefly be noted
that between 1862 and 1872 Erica at Ballindalloch had eight calves and that
she died in 1873 of abcess in the chest at the age of sixteen years.
Four of these calves were bulls, the first, Guardsman of Ballindalloch 658, born in April,
1862, sired by Tillyfour-bred Windsor 221, purchased in 1858 by Lord Southesk for £180
from George Brown, Westertown. Her second bull calf was Cupbearer of Ballindalloch
451 by Trojan and winner of a second prize of the Highland Society. He was born in March
1868. Third son was Exciseman 473 by Victor of Ballindalloch, born in February, 1871;
and fourth, in February 1872, her best bull calf, Elcho 595 by Juryman, a notable animal
by reason of his prowess as a breeder although almost un-known in the showyard.
He was bought in 1874 for the Advie herd where he remained until 1876 when he
returned to Ballindalloch, and there sired such famous animals as Justice 1462; Etonian
1658, the sire of Iliad; Provost 1259, a son of Pride of Mulben and eventually brought back
to Ballindalloch; and Pride of Strathspey 4182, also out of Pride of Mulben. Later Elcho
was sold to the Earl of Strathmore, who sold him after three years to Cortachy, and at the
Cortachy sale in 1886 twenty-two of the females were his daughters. Once again he
passed to Advie, and thence home for a second time to Ballindalloch where he had only
one mating with Roseleaf 2993, a Rose of Westertown cow, the progeny being the bull
Royal Elcho, calved January 1887.
Of Erica's daughters, so much greater than three of her four sons, extended mention will
be found in a later chapter. Eldest was Erica 2nd 1284 by Chieftain 318, born in 1865 ;
Eisa 977 by Trojan, calved January 1867 came next, highly commended at the Highland
Show in 1869 and first as a two-year-old at Elgin, second as a cow at the Highland and
first at the Morayshire Show, and honourable mention at the Paris Exhibition of 1878.
Third daughter, also by Trojan, was Enchantress 981, calved 1869, first at the 1871
Highland Show; and fourth and last daughter was Ella 1205 by Kildonan 405. There were
thus from a very early date three recognised branches of the Erica family—the Chieftain
Ericas, the Kildonan Ericas, and the Trojan Ericas.
The Chieftain Ericas which trace through the daughters of Erica 2nd were a great feature
of the Cortachy sale in 1882, but outside North America they and the Kildonan Ericas
have never enjoyed the same amount of popularity as the Trojan Ericas. Those who could
recall Chieftain have informed us that they thought very highly of him. From the point of
view of breeding, there was much to commend him.
Similarly Kildonan, out of the Balwyllo-bred Keepsake 427 by President, a first prize
winner at the Highland and other shows, and having for sire Black Prince of Tillyfour, sire
also of Trojan, had good breeding, and is described by one who remembered him well
as a great butcher's beast, who owing to his refusing latterly to serve had to be sent to the
block.
We are inclined therefore to think that the greater favour shown for the Trojan Ericas is
due to the fact that they were retained at Ballindalloch and carefully bred for a series of
years to the best bulls in use there. It was not until about 1886 that members of this
branch of the family were allowed to go in any numbers on the public market. In the
interval, representatives of the other branches had gone into many other hands where, in
cases, the breeding had not been so carefully arranged.
Source: The Aberdeen Angus Breed: A History, Barclay, J. R. 1958. pp 48-50
Pedigee: American Angus Association
More from Barclay here.
Erica's Family
Erica had 4 sons and four daughters ín her time at Ballindalloch that were recorded in the
Aberdeen Angus Society's Herd Book. You can read more about Erica's Family here.
Erica had 4 sons and four daughters ín her time at Ballindalloch that were recorded in the
Aberdeen Angus Society's Herd Book. You can read more about Erica's Family here.
From Macdonald and Sinclair 1882 (page 147)
In 1861, as a cow, Erica 843 was placed third at the Highland Society; but one of those
before her was disqualified, so that she was actually second. She was also first at the
local show. In that year she was sold to Sir George Macpherson Grant for 50 guineas, the
highest price at the Kinnaird sale.
It is needless to remark here on the many excellent animals that now trace de- scent from
this valuable cow. Erica 843 herself was not a very large cow, but was almost bigger than
what is called a big little one. She stood on very short legs, and had a lovely, feminine
head, and splendid quality. Lord Southesk remarked, that after the sale he much
regretted he had sold her, but that now he was glad, as otherwise her race might have
been also extinguished.
In 1861, as a cow, Erica 843 was placed third at the Highland Society; but one of those
before her was disqualified, so that she was actually second. She was also first at the
local show. In that year she was sold to Sir George Macpherson Grant for 50 guineas, the
highest price at the Kinnaird sale.
It is needless to remark here on the many excellent animals that now trace de- scent from
this valuable cow. Erica 843 herself was not a very large cow, but was almost bigger than
what is called a big little one. She stood on very short legs, and had a lovely, feminine
head, and splendid quality. Lord Southesk remarked, that after the sale he much
regretted he had sold her, but that now he was glad, as otherwise her race might have
been also extinguished.