300 Missouri Agricultural Report. 



Now the question of horns : If the horns are long, they should 

 be cut off. Don't cut too deep. Then scrape them and shape them. 

 Don't allow them to grow up; it is no trouble to pull them down. 

 After cutting and scraping them rub them with glass, then with 

 coarse sand paper, and with chamois skin; then put on some sweet 

 oil, and some whitening will help the appearance. 



I believe that it also adds very materially to the appearance 

 of the animal to have the hoofs well cleaned. I don't like to see 

 a man lead an animal into the show ring with a lot of straw and 

 manure on its feet. 



Another very important point in showing cattle is to have them 

 properly broken. It is a very exasperating thing to see an animal 

 brought into the ring trying to get away. If you show an animal 

 that is a kicker, and the judge gets a couple of kicks, he does not 

 take kindly to that animal. I know what it is — have gotten them 

 myself. I never liked them as well afterwards. Have them well 

 broken before you show them. Teach them at home. You cannot 

 teach them in a day. It takes weeks to teach them. Different ani- 

 mals require different treatments. One must be taught to raise its 

 head, another to hold the head down. Teach them to stand, and 

 when you get into the show ring, always stand on the same side of 

 the animal on which the judge is standing; this will enable you to 

 see the animal as the judge sees it. When the animal has some little 

 fault don't try to hide it, because when you try to hide one fault, 

 you often bring up others. Do your training at home ; do anything 

 that you can do in a legitimate way, so that in the ring you will 

 have nothing to hide from the judge. 



One more point: It is probably not just along the line I have 

 been talking. I think that at all our county fairs and district fairs, 

 and at our big shows, there should be prizes given for young men 

 under 21 years of age, who bring out their animals in the best 

 condition. There is nothing that will do so much for the boys, and 

 keep them on the farm, as to give them prizes for showing their 

 animals in the best condition. It will make them better breeders, 

 and they will think more of the line of work they are following. 

 I think that is something our county fairs could do to good ad- 

 vantage. 



