FARM DEPAETMENT. 207 



no doubt that a cessation of the grain ration, for a time, was beneficial, and 

 that they fed to better advantage, after this rest from dry food. They were 

 placed in their stalls daily, however, and offered grain, but they consumed 

 very little. As the drought affected the pastures, we soon had to return to 

 full feeding in stalls, and up to the 7th of September, when the lot was 

 shipped to Jackson, to the State fair, they had made fair gains. 



The steers were shown at the State fair at Jackson ; the next week at the 

 West Michigan at Grand Kapids; and then at the Central Michigan at Lan- 

 sing. They were away from the College on this trip four weeks continuously, 

 and yet, so well were they cared for and handled, that, with one exception, 

 they had more than held their own. They proved an attractive exhibit at 

 the fairs. On account of the Central fair occurring at same date as the Ionia 

 county fair, we were compelled to give up our plan to exhibit there, as we 

 felt under prior obligations to our home fair. I wish especially to thank the 

 officials of all these shows for courtesies extended. 



In no month during the experiment did the steers feed to better advantage 

 than the one after their fair trip up to the time of their shipment to Chicago, 

 November 8, for the final exhibit at the Fat Stock Show, in charge of 

 Thomas Jack, assisted by Sophomore J. K. Frank, of Eochester, Mich. The 

 steers were in very good trim, not fat enough to show, perhaps, to good 

 advantage with the cattle fitted expressly for the show, while on foot; but 

 giving them a good rub when placed on the block. The exhibit attracted 

 much attention and favorable comment from the leading breeders of the 

 country. I subjoin a few extracts from various sources: The editor of one 

 of our leading farm journals says: " The more I reflect on your ten steers at 

 Chicago the more I appreciate the importance to our feeders of your very 

 interesting experiment as tending to do something that the Fat Stock Show 

 seems never likely to accomplish, namely, to indicate the comparative merits 

 of the various breeds for the profitable production of beef." 



Another says: "The exhibit was the educational feature of the show. 

 Here was the object lesson of animals of six breeds, fed under same condi- 

 tions from calfhood, giving to visitors at a glance the differences in form, 

 size, weight, finish and other characteristics." 



The Country Gentleman calls it, " A specially noteworthy show." 



The Orange Judd Farmer says: "As a matter of study, and an encour- 

 agement to experiments in practical agriculture, it will well pay those 

 attending the Stock Show to take a look at these animals." 



The Illnois Board of Agriculture very courteously gave me a hearing, and 

 after discussing the subject came to the conclusion that as we had only one 

 a,nimal of each of two breeds we should confine the slaughter to one of each 

 breed. This decision was, I believe, a wise one. The Board also decided 

 that I must select the animals to exhibit and for the slaughter test. I 

 endeavored in each case to select the animal that I thought, everything con- 

 sidered, would make the best showing for the breed. It was thought by some 

 Shorthorn breeders that the steer Holt would have made the better carcass. 

 He might have done so, but the carcass of Homer compared very favorably 

 with that of the sweepstakes steer of that class, and I do not think there is 

 much ground for criticism. Homer was over-ripe. I think Holt was also. 

 They would have given better carcasses six months younger. 



I wish to express my cordial appreciation of the courtesies extended by 

 President Dysart, Secretary Mills, Supts. Funk and Moore of the cattle 



