TENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART XI 673 



Chester Whites from over a dozen Iowa herds and half as many from 

 outside states made a show of good quality. H. L. Orcutt, Monroe, Iowa, 

 judged them. 



THE SHEEP SECTION. 



The sheep entries this year were of very attractive quality, embracing 

 many of the best animals brought over from England this summer and 

 some that were considered by good judges on that side of the Atlantic to 

 be as good as could be furnished in the home of the breeds. Several new 

 flocks were represented with an extraordinarily good quality of foundation 

 stock that snatched some of the laurels from the older exhibitors. Some of 

 the sheep were comfortably housed in the northeast corner of the swine 

 building; the others were distributed through the old sheep sheds. As 

 usual most of the prizes went to imported sheep except in the classes for 

 home-bred animals alone, yet the interest taken by home breeders in the 

 contest among themselves gives hope that the excuse for providing thesqr 

 closed classes will gradually be removed. 



Shropshires as usual made up the bulk of the sheep entries at Des 

 Moines. The McKerrow, Chandler, Elmendorf and Renk flocks did the 

 winning in the open classes. Some splendid sheep were imported for 

 these flocks the past summer so that they are starting in the fall cam- 

 paign with good exhibits and hot competition. Elmendorf Stock Farm 

 landed the ram championship with a rare good typey compact ram. 

 "With its first prize yearling this flock has a well nigh invincible pair of 

 rams. These were considered by some judges to be the best rams to 

 leave England this year. Chandler Bros, were strong on the ewe end of 

 the show with both first prize aged ewe and lamb. The latter is wonder- 

 fully forward and neat, covered in every part and carrying a thick fleecev 

 STie was champion. So strong was the ewe show that a beautiful one 

 from the Elmendorf flock, considered by some judges in England to be the 

 best to leave its shores this season, was beaten in its class here. This 

 Elmendorf flock has been newly established and the showing made against 

 the veterans of the ring was very creditable. 



Home-bred Shropshires did not compare favorably with the imported 

 flocks, but much improvement has been made by them in the past two 

 years. Steady gains are following experience and attention to the de- 

 tails of flock management which are apt to escape American flock owners. 

 Some excellent home-bred sheep were exhibited that looked good by them- 

 selves and it is only a question of time till open competition will be 

 courted by home breeders. The get of ram entries were both Iowa bred. 

 The lambs were of good type and well shown although lacking the size 

 so greatly coveted but not yet attained by home breeders. 



Oxfords furnished a contest mainly between the McKerrow and Hecht- 

 ner flocks, with the winnings pretty well distributed, although in the final 

 decisions both championships went to the Wisconsin flock. Hechtner won 

 the flock prize. John Graham & Sons of Iowa showed a pen of home-bred 

 lambs without competition. The champion ram and ewe adhered closely 

 to the compact, useful type of Oxford growing in esteem among men who 

 prefer a moderately large sheep. 



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