Black Knight

      Black Knight is a short story about the old Time great Aberdeen Angus bull Black Knight, written in 1904 by Charles S. Plumb, B. Sc., Professor of Animal Husbandry, Ohio State University. This bull played a great part in the early history of the Angus breed of Beef Cattle. This story rescued from the public domain.

     Among the really great Aberdeen-Angus herds of cattle that have been in existence in the United States was that of T. W. Harvey of Chicago at Turlington, Neb. The development of this herd began along in the early '80s, and William Watson, familiarly known as "Uncle Willie," a son of the famous Hugh Watson of Keillor, Scotland, was herd manager during the most interesting part of its history.

     Black Knight 4751 (5887) was bred by Gudgell & Simpson of Independence, Mo., And was calved on Oct. 30, 1883. His sire was Knight of St. Patrick (2194) 354, and his dam Blackcap (4C42) 1552.  The importance of this parentage of Black Knight is first worthy of consideration.  His sire, Knight of St. Patrick, was a great show bull in Scotland and America. He was bred by R. C. Auld, Bridgend, Scotland, and in 1881 won the Highland and Agricultural society silver medal as the best bull at the Leochel-Cushnie Agricultural society show in Scotland. Soon after, in 1882, he was imported to America by Gudgell & Simpson of Independence, Mo. Thereafter his merit as a show bull became manifest.  In 1882 he was first in class at Minneapolis and St. Louis, and was also sweepstakes bull at the latter show. He also headed the herd of five cows that won first place at Minneapolis and St. .Louis for being the best polled herd, while at Kansas City he headed the best herd of any breed. In 1883 Knight of St. Patrick was first in class at Minneapolis, Des Moines, Kansas City and St. Louis, and sweepstakes bull at the latter show. He also headed the herd which won first at Minneapolis and St. Louis as the best polled herd, and was first at Topeka, Kan., as the best herd of any breed.

     Knight of St. Patrick was out of Pride of Aberdeen 10th (3250) 355, and was a grandson on both sides of Pride of Aberdeen 5th 356, a daughter of the famous Paris show cow Pride of Aberdeen, shown by McCombie. Thus Knight of St. Patrick, as a result of inheritance, deserved to be a great show bull and breeder, and this inheritance he transmitted to his son Black Knight. Blackcap, the dam of Black Knight, was the most noted cow in the herd of Gudgell & Simpson, and was a most unusual breeder. She was bred by Sir George MacPherson Grant at Ballindalloch, Scotland, and cost Gudgell & Simpson $2,050. Not only was she regarded as one of the very best cows in the Scotch herd, but Gudgell & Simpson thought her the best cow by far in their herd. She was out of Blackcap of Corskie 3d, 733, and was four generations from Lady Ida, from whom the Blackbird tribe derived its foundress.

     T. W. Harvey purchased the subject of this sketch from Gudgell & Simpson for $2,000, and he was taken to Turlington early in 1886 by Mr. Watson, wnen he began service there.

     Black Knight was not purchased for the show ring, but for the breeding herd, and as a sire he made his fame. As an individual, however, he was a fine type of the breed, and is described as low, deep and thick, with back, loin and quarter covered with a thick layer of flesn most smoothly laid on. He also had a well-developed crest and a beautiful head, while as a whole he was stylish and possessed much quality and finish.