316 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



the four leading breeds at the great annual competition at Des Moines 

 — in fact, a most admirable feature of this fall show was the well- 

 balanced display. The Holsteins probably led in numbers, but the 

 Jersey, Guernsey and Ayrshire classes all were well filled, each breed 

 having several different herds on the grounds. Absence of tail-end 

 animals among the different classes also was a notable feature. The 

 expression of the judges along this line was uniformly commendatory 

 and freely given. The condition and excellent manner in which prac- 

 tically all of the entries were displayed, not only added materially to the 

 high-class character of the show as a whole, but were decidedly credit- 

 able to the owners and herdsmen in charge. 



AYRSHIRES. 



Among the Ayrshire herds, those of Seitz & Sons, Doctor Roherts, 

 and the Galloway-Messer Farms, were of especial merit. The first 

 mentioned herd succeeded in winning most of the premier prizes, being 

 especially strong in the get of the famous bull. Imp. Bargenock Gay 

 Cavalier. The fitting of the Seitz cattle was a strong feature of this 

 display, though little less can be said of all the entries. Much interest 

 was attached to the judging of the female classes in this breed, es- 

 pecially as championship honors were being neared. Nona Goodgift, 

 phenomenal heifer, grand champion of last year's National Dairy Show, 

 was at Des Moines, ready to try for the highest honors again. She 

 has come on wonderfully well in sweetness of type and character, and 

 after a struggle, was successful in winning junior honors. However, 

 Imp. Kilnford Belle 4th, Seitz's blue ribbon winner in the aged class, 

 presented such faultless type and mature development, that the imma- 

 turity of the younger champion left the older cow with the higher 

 honors. Competition was also keen in the bull classes for the highest 

 honors, but the greater maturity and development of the aged bull 

 was finally a deciding factor in his favor. Although the Seitz entries 

 carried away more ribbons than any of the other herds, they had the 

 stiffest kind of going all the way through. The Galloway-Messer herd 

 was exceptionally strong in the younger classes, with Dr. Roberts' herd 

 almost equally good. Ferndell Farm, a new exhibitor here, made an 

 exceptionally good show for a novice. As a brief concluding remark, 

 it is probably safe to say that no greater Ayrshire display ever was 

 held in this country, and it is questionable if an equal number of cattle 

 of equal merit could be gathered together anywhere in the United 

 States, unless some of those here present were included. James Wat- 

 son, of Kansas City, Mo., was the efficient judge of the classes. 



JERSEYS. 



The Jerseys presented a magnificent line-up, especially in the female 

 classes, where the numbers were larger than in the classes for bulls. 

 An outstanding feature of the Jersey display was the very satisfactory 

 quality of practically all the entries. The herds of Mr. Young, of 

 Nebraska, and Mrs. Fabyan, of Illinois, were brought out In almost 

 perfect condition. It was the opinion of Mr. Will Forbes, who placed 



