726 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



why cows cannot be high-class producers and also conform to present 

 day show-ring standards. Similarly, Wilbur W. Marsh, one of Iowa's 

 most noted breeders, believes that producers can be of the highest show- 

 yard standard, but agrees that it is a hard matter to prove this as long 

 as many of them are not. However, greater consideration is being given 

 by fair managers to the matter of production and at not a few of the 

 expositions special classifications are now provided for cows which have 

 made large records. 



GUERNSEY 



The showing of Guernseys was wholly and unexplainably out of pro- 

 portion with the popularity and prominence of this great breed in the 

 corn belt. A year ago this great Channel Island breed was represented 

 at Des Moines by five herds which, in all, contained sixty or more head 

 and the results of the contest were such as to warrant the prediction that 

 the display of Guernsey cattle at the fifty-eighth Iowa State Pair would 

 be still larger and there were those who even dared to anticipate that it 

 would be superior in point of quality. On the contrary, however, but 

 three herds, aggregating less than forty animals, were shown and al- 

 though a superior lot throughout, yet in but few instances was it su- 

 perior to that seen in the Des Moines arena in 1911. W. W. Marsh, of 

 Waterloo, had expected to show his herd, but, after making the neces- 

 sary entries, found it impossible or inconvenient to make the exhibit. 

 The absence of his "string" v/eakened the display considerably, for in the 

 few years he has been engaged in the business of breeding Guernseys 

 Mr. Marsh has succeeded in assembling and developing one of the best 

 herds to be found anywhere in the middle west and not a few of his 

 animals have repeatedly won premier recognition in the closest 

 of competition and at the hands of the most discriminating of judges. 

 The judging last week was done by William Forbes, of Lincoln, Neb., who 

 has but lately accepted an important position with the dairy division of 

 the United States Department of Agriculture. His ratings were care- 

 fully made and, in most instances, met with the ready approval of ex- 

 hibitors and onlookers. Among the senior herd bulls he found Bob 

 Rilma best qualified to contend for the championship and of the juniors 

 none pleased him as well as did Raymond of Sarnia, a son of Raymond 

 of the Preel IV., which was imported by Charles L. Hill, president of 

 the American Guernsey cattle club. This yearling gives promise of 

 developing into a strong show-ring contender, but the transfer from his 

 home quarters to the less comfortable accommodations afforded en route 

 and at the fair had not agreed with him and in consequence he was not 

 appearing in his best form. Of the females none proved more attractive 

 than two sets of twin heifers shown by Messrs. Wilcox and Stubbs. The 

 two year olds are daughters of Galaxy's Sequel and Daisy Bell of the 

 Grand Fort and at preceding shows have also been accorded special rec- 

 ognition. The second pair were sired by Diamond of Tucre and mothered 

 by Patricia of Sarnia. They, too, are superior individuals. The senior 

 yearling. Park's Princess Rhea and a daughter of Rhea's King of the 



