Panmure

  Panmure is a short story about the Aberdeen Angus bull Panmure 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.

     The breeder of Aberdeen-Angus cattle who does not study pedigrees mas' have to plead guilty of lack of knowledge of Panmure (51), and yet in his time he was a very famous animal. In fact, by many he is regarded as important an element in Angus history as Hubback of the Shorthorns. Both were great bulls individually and in breeding power.

     There has been some controversy concerning the ancestry of Panmure. Vol.I. of the Scotch Polled Cattle Herd Book states that his dam is Black Meg (766), an animal of implied Galloway blood, while the name of her sire is not given in this volume. A careful study of the parentage of Panmure was made by Mr. Jamieson of Marischal college, Aberdeen, who most satisfactorily solved the question. Black Meg (766) may be referred to as Black Meg of Ardovie. William Fullerton of Ardovie, the owner of Panmure, in correspondence published by Mr. Jamieson, states that the bull was bred by Lord Panmure, and that his dam was Black Meg of Panmure, unquestionably an Aberdeen-Angus. Some time after the publication of the herd book referred to it was learned that Panmure was sired by an Angus bull by the name of Hector, bred by a gentleman of that name of Fernyflatt, parish ol Kinneff.

     Regarding the reflection on the purity of Panmure's breeding that is, being partly from Galloway blood the following is of interest: Trie bull was owned for some years by Mr. Farquharson Taylor of Wellhouse, Aberdeen. While in his possession Lord Panmure sent a famous artist by the name of Phillip to his home to paint the bull's portrait. "Not satisfied with Mr. Phillip's first sketch," writes Mr. McCombie, "he sent him back and Mr. Phillip lived at Wellhouse for weeks and painted Panmure a second time." Referring to the portrait of the bull, as bearing on breed ancestry and type, Mr. Fullerton, along in the early '70s, wrote to Mr. Jamieson as follows: "But the bull Panmure is on canvas in the Mechanics' hall, Brech-In, painted by the great J. Phillip; also he is now before me, and on canvas by the same great man, and presented to me by the late Lord Panmure; and let any judge look at these paintings and say if he sees the very slightest resemblance to the Galloway breed. Not he! No! Half a judge would even say so. His elegant head and stately outline would at a glance at once bring out such a remark as, 'There has been no Galloway blood there No, no!'"

     Mr. Fullerton was a celebrated breeder of Angus cattle in his time, winning many prizes of great value. Panmure was calved in 1840, and in 1841, when a year and a half old, he was purchased by Mr. Fullerton from Lord Panmure for about $90 American money. He proved to be a good investment, although owned by Mr. Fullerton but two years. While in his possession he sired Monarch (44) and another bull named Colonel. Panmure was exhibited by Mr. Fullerton and with much success, winning the first prize as a 3-year-old at Dundee in 1843, when in very strong competition. After this show he was purchased by Mr. Taylor, already referred to, in whose hands he made a good record as both breeding and show bull. Referring to him in his later career Mr. Fullerton writes: "I saw him (Panmure) stand as winner of the third prize at Aberdeen with his two sons, Monarch (44) and the Colonel, both bred by me, standing beside their father Monarch having the first and Colonel the second prize. Of course Panmure was by this time some 8 or 9 years of age, and so wanted to some extent the outline and sprightliness of a 3 or even a 5 year old. Still, and to make allowance for the service he had rendered, there would have been but small mistake, if any, to have made his sons stand below him. I do not think I have ever seen such a dashing 3-year-old as he was at Dundee in 1843."