Jilt

      Jilt is a short story about the Aberdeen Angus cow, Jilt. It was written in 1904 by Charles S. Plumb, B. Sc., Professor of Animal Husbandry, Ohio State University. Jilt was an early Matron of the Aberdeen Angus breed.

  Among the various tribes of Aberdeen-Angus cattle the Jilt stands prominent.

  We naturally pay considerable deference to a matron of dignified and impressive bearing and quality, but in the case of Jilt (973) 422, the foundress of this tribe, there are quite exceptional reasons why one should pay her homage. She was not the greatest of show cows in her time; there were better ones. Yet she was a worthy individual, for she was a second-prize winner at the Highland and Agricultural show of Scotland in 1864, and won the same place the next year at the Royal Northern. In view of the fact that both McCombie and others were making great shows of Angus in those days, a second place in the ring must mean much of individual merit.

  Jilt (973) was bred by William Mc-Gombie at Tillyfour. She had for sire one of the most impressive and valuable bulls of that time, Black Prince of Tillyfour (366) 77, a descendant of Queen Mother, while her dam was Beauty ot Tillyfour 2d (1180) 423. The sire was bred by McCombie and the dam by Watson, and each animal represented the blood from which great individuals may be created. Jilt was dropped in 1863, and in 1867 was purchased at McCombie's sale for about $350 by Sir George Macpherson Grant for the herd at Ballindalloch. When she was 10 years old, Thomas Farrail, in a prize essay on this breed, published by the Highland and Agricultural society, wrote: "Though several summers have somewhat dashed her bloom, she is still a cow of great size and many good points."

  Although the Ballindalloch herd is a very old one, McCombie regarding it as one of the oldest in north Scotland, it has been said that it got its first good start with the Jilt stock. And this leads us to Jilt, the breeder, and here she stands out in history as a really wonderful cow. So superior as individuals 'and breeders were her sons that she had been happily termed "the mother of monarchs," the appropriateness of which will appear farther on. Jilt bred to 16 years of age and had nine calves, and as she ceased to breed was slaughtered in her seventeenth year.

The following is a list of Jilt's sons and daughters:
  Juryman (4Q4) 421 ..Sire, Bright (454) 375 Jester (472) 1471 : l.-Sire. Victor of Ballindalloeh (403) 528 Jewel (1413) 1669 . Sire. Victor of Ballindalloch (403) 528 Jewess a916) 852..' Sire Exciseman (473) 801 Judge (1150> 473 Sire, Scotsman (474) 482 Judy (2996) 4131. Sir.e. BalUmore (741) 474 Juno of Ballindalloch (3374) -1900 Sire. Ballimore (741) 474 Justice (1462) 854 Sire, Elcho (595) 527 General of Tillyfour (1332) 5158 Sire. President 4th (368) 279 These are all recorded in volume 1 of the American Aberdeen-Angus Herdbook, as the registration numbers show, Besides these, according to Judge Goodwin, there is another son, named Jacket sired by Editor, but not registered in the American book. It is interesting to note here that custom occasionally adopted by the breeders of naming stock with a uniform letter a method apparently well perpetuated in the Jilt tribe, and, as Farrall says, "a race or family of J's difficult to compete with."

  It will be well to briefly consider some of these sons and daughters of Jilt. Juryman, Judge and Justice , brought everlasting fame to the memory of the cow. They formed a great trio, and Americans must be especially interested in them from the fact that both Judge 'and Justice were purchased and used by Judge J. S. Goodwin (then of Beloit, Kan.) in his herd.

  Juryman made his first appearance in the show ring at the Highland at Dumfries, winning first place, and again at the 1871 Highland at Perth, winning first as aged bull. In 1871 he was referred to xas "a remarkably good looking as well 'as a most valuable stock bull." Judge was calved in 1875, and he secured fame by winning first prize in the aged bull class at the Paris exposition, and so has been dubbed "the world beater." He was imported to Rougamont, Quebec, by George Whitfield, who later sold him to Judge Goodwin, In whose possession he died.