546 IOWA DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE 
were a few things that might have been done in a somewhat different vray 
and thus have made the show a great deal better from an educational 
point of view. Among these things was one that was evident even to the 
most casual observer. The world has been taught by experience that 
there is something of value in the purity of blood in our pure-bred 
breeds of live stock and it has learned to prize a stallion, a mare, a bull, 
a cow, or any other breeding animal not merely because of its individual 
merit but also, and very largely, because of the performance records of 
its ancestors. This is why breed records have been established and why 
an animal with a pedigree is considered more valuable for breeding 
purposes than one whose ancestors are unknown. Breed character, in 
other words, has come to mean something. 
It was evident to all who know anything about the different breeds of 
horses that there was a certain animal in the show ring which gave very 
little individual evidence of belonging to the breed with which it was 
shown. So much did it resemble another breed that had it been classed 
with the one it resembled most, its relationship would probably never 
have been questioned. While the horse referred to was possessed of in- 
dividual excellence it had but few characters common to the breed with 
which it was classified, and it seems as though it should have been ruled 
out of that breed. If a century of breeding does not stand for breed 
character what does it represent? 
The cattle show as a whole was larger and better than that of last 
year. There were in the neighborhood of 800 on the grounds. The 
Short-horns did not make so large a showing as usual, but the quality 
was fully up to the standard of previous years. The high price of grains 
and the slight depression in the live stock trade that has prevailed for 
a few months perhaps caused the falling off of the popular Short-horns 
in the show ring, of which there were 189 in the breeding classes. None 
of the classes were very large, nevertheless they were strong. The Here- 
ford breeders, who for several years have been pushing their cattle to 
the front, were decidedly in evidence with their favorites this year. No 
less than 169 "white faced" breeding cattle were at the show and a mag- 
nificent lot they were! They truly made a fine appearance, some of the 
classes having as many as 25 or 30 head. The exhibtor's herd, breeder's 
herd, calf herd, get of sire and produce of cow classes T\'ere very large 
and made the biggest show of "white faces" that has ever been seen in 
tne ring at the Iowa State Fair. The Angus breed was represented by 
91 head of breeding stock and it was a general ringside remark that 
the quality of the "Doddies" was first-class and the show as a whole of 
superior excellence. The number was about the same as last year. The 
Red Poll show was larger than last year, 83 head being entered. The 
Polled Durhams, Galloways, Jerseys and Holsteins were represented by 
55, 40, 45 and 43 head, respectively. 
