SEVENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART IX. 451 



In the beef cattle department things moved along smoothly under 

 the direction of Ex-Governor S. B. Packard, who has for some years 

 presided acceptably over the destinies of this section. Judges were 

 on duty whose experience qualified them for their work, and while 

 animated discussions arose now and again over close decisions, there 

 was an absence of the open ruction or undertone of discontent which 

 sometimes mars such occasions when judges have not been chosen 

 with sufficient regard for their capabilities. 



A catalogue of the horses and cattle aided materially to an under- 

 standing and enjoyment of the show. All entries wore numbers in the 

 ring corresponding to their catalogue numbers and for the expendi- 

 ture of a dime any person could put himself in possession of the 

 key to the ring performances before him. This catalogue presented " 

 also a diagram of the grounds, showing the location of all exhibits, 

 and the daily programme of the attractions- — the music, racing, and 

 special exhibitions in front of the grandstand. In addition it contained 

 some interesting facts about Des Moines and instructions as to what to 

 see, and how to see it, in that city. It was a most commendable issue. 



THE SIIORT-HORNS. 



Some brilliant demonstrations of the show-yard excellencies which 

 this breed attains were in evidence, projected the more strikingly 

 against a background of exhibits that could not be said to measure 

 up to State fair standards. Indeed, there was noticeable weakness in 

 some of the herds of the more noted exhibitors which does not promise 

 highly for a record-breaking campaign. Exhibitors are finding it 

 more and more difficult to carry on cattle from precocious youth to 

 satisfactory maturity. A show cow that has been made from a show 

 calf, and meanwhile done honest duty in the herd, is not one of the 

 commonest sights on a fair ground. There was some outstanding 

 strength in nearly all classes, and in the bull calves and the younger 

 classes of females the exhibit reached its climax — it suffered some- 

 what by comparison with former years and with other collections of 

 the breed. The plan of offering classes open only to Iowa breeders has 

 now been in operation for some years and it has undoubtedly increased 

 entries. That it has advanced the standard of quality is another propo- 

 sition. The Iowa idea is that it encourages home breeders to bring 

 out their cattle for comparison, and that in time they will be encour- 

 aged to better efforts. Only experience can test out this idea. Philo- 

 sophically considered, it will depend altogether on the man — whether 

 he will be content to win a little money in the state class, or be stim- 

 ulated to try for position in the open class. On one point there can 

 be no difference of opinion — the offer of closed classes at any live 

 stock exhibition invariably and inevitably tends toward a lower aver- 

 age of quality. It was in evidence here. 



Editor's Note — It is very evident that the Gazette has failed to 

 thoroughly grasp the idea of offering an loiva special class. ..No entries 

 are required in this special class.. .All state cattle are entered in the 

 open class and when the aivarding judges place their ribbons they 



