FIFTEENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART X 665 



and 1,508 animals, and Missouri 251 breeders and 1,538 animals. 



Although sheer merit has been the principal factor in disseminating 

 the Aberdeen Angus in this country, just as it has been in the breed's 

 native land, it is nevertheless true, publicity has been the vanguard of 

 proclaiming the superiority of the breed. Comprehensively speaking, 

 publicity is the force that has accomplished the results the breed can 

 proudly boast of at present. 



Publicity can take so many forms that one can see that directly and 

 indirectly it has been instrumental for all breed extension in every 

 country. The exhibits of Aberdeen Angus at the leading shows, fairs 

 and expositions of this country and other countries are probably the 

 most concrete examples of publicity we have had recorded up to date. 

 The exploitation of the breed in its native habitat in northeast Scot- 

 land and in the British Isles by means of exhibits at fairs, was the 

 first thing to attract the attention from beyond the breed's localized 

 county sphere. A further demonstration of its merits over all breeds 

 was portrayed on continental Europe at Paris, France in the seventies. 

 The heralding of the Aberdeen Angus overwhelming success at Paris 

 was the substantial means of convincing the American cattlemen the 

 breed was par excellence in the production of beef and was no doubt 

 the greatest factor in introducing the breed so quickly and in such 

 great numbers in the early eighties in America. 



Facts relative to the introduction and migration of the breed in 

 America in the hands of some of our most brilliant writers could be 

 woven into a story that would eJitrance the most indifferent breed- 

 extension thinker. The breed's extension by practical demonstration 

 in the show rings in America is like the history of a victorious people. 

 The Aberdeen Angus, as it were, forced their way by sheer merit and 

 possessed the richest land of the corn belt. From this center of cattle- 

 dom through the breed's inherent efficiency it has constantly radiated 

 its influence on the cattle industry in every direction. 



Contemporaneous with the unlocking of the vast fields of plant fer- 

 tility with the plow in the west a generation or two ago, came the 

 necessity for improved live stock. State boards of agriculture have 

 greatly aided the extension of breeds by liberal premiums and the edu- 

 cational exhibits that have been in evidence at leading fairs in the 

 past. 



Other agricultural authorities and enterprising business men have 

 made much of our breed extension possible by their loyal support to 

 inter-state district and county fairs. Some people believe we have 

 reached our zenith in point of number and quality of our fairs and 

 bhows. Others believe we are just in our infancy in this form of breed 

 extension. The difference of opinion comes from two distinct classes 

 of breeders, namely, those who Exhibit and those who do not exhibit. 

 Our leading fairs and shows as a whole are reaching larger numbers 

 and they have become vast institutions of extension and learning for 

 all who attend. The cooperation of the American Aberdeen Angus 

 Breeders' Association with all state fairs and shows as far as its 

 finances would permit has helped to make the extension operations 



