414 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



As we pass to the dual purpose animals we find first in numbers the Red 

 Polled, and it is doubtful if any judge of live stock at the Michigan State 

 Fair had a more difficult task on his hands (©r met it more satisfactorily) 

 than did Prof. Shaw, of the Michigan Agricultural College, when the two 

 Michigan and four foreign herds of this breed were lined up before him in 

 the show ring. 



One magnificent herd of Brown Swiss from outside the state was proof 

 positive of the fact that there was still another type of the dual purpose 

 animal and that they were with us. 



The showing made by the owners of dairy herds was the best your super- 

 intendent has ever seen at a state fair. While the number of animals shown 

 was far in excess of that at most state fairs the quality did not suffer thereby. 



In point of numerical strength the Holsteins lecl, being represented by 

 seven herds, six of which were Michigan cattle. 



Probably no finer show of Guernseys was ever gotten together at one 

 state fair than that made by the four Michigan breeders, who had things all 

 their own way in these classes. 



While the handsome and useful little Jerseys were not strong in numbers, 

 in quality the best this country has to offer was with us. The famous Mars- 

 ton farm of Bay City, Mich., and the Hood farm of Massachusetts, were the 

 principal contestants, and it was indeed a battle royal. It is a matter of 

 local pride that the Michigan herd won many first prizes, and at least one 

 championship in the open classes. 



I should feel that I w^as derelict in duty were I to fail to mention the ''edu- 

 cational exhibit " of eighteen head of cattle made by the Agricultural College 

 of Michigan. This exhibit was in no way a competitive one for the prizes 

 offered by our association, but purely an educational one, and deserving of 

 being highly commended. It was intended to (and did) present certain 

 educational features and object lessons of a most practical kind. AVith 

 each animal shown was a chart showing value and kind of feed given since 

 the birth of the animal, thus giving the common farmer the opportunity to 

 observe by comparison results that might be expected or hoped for with 

 certain feeds and conditions — an experimental education that can and should 

 be made invaluable to the every day breeder of the cattle of commerce on 

 the Michigan farm. This is a feature that should be given every encourage- 

 ment by the Society in the opinion of your superintendent. 



On the morning of Sept. 6 our department made a display parade on the 

 track in front of the grand stand of such merit that it is much to be regretted 

 that there were not more spectators present. In this parade were forty- 

 seven herds of pure bred cattle represented, thirty-three of which were bred 

 and owned in the state of Michigan. One hundred and seven head of prize 

 animals were shown in "fancy evolution'' making a sight long to be remem- 

 bered. 



While we were glad indeed to welcome the eighteen splendid foreign herds 

 of cattle shown at this year's fair, and sincerely hope that the mmiber may 

 be doubled at our next exhibition, it is still a matter of great local pride 

 that while the foreign herds shown were of exceptional merit, and represented 

 34% of the entire cattle exhibition, 74% of the money in the open classes was 

 awarded to Michigan cattle, all of which augurs well for the cattle industry 

 in our state and the future of the exhibition at the State Fair. 



C. A. TYLER, 

 Supt. Cattle, 



