842 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



showing which the breeders of live stock made, there never was a time 

 when there was so much good pure-bred stock in the country as there is 

 today. Incidentally let us say that there has not been a time in recent 

 years when the outlook for the breeder of first class stock was brighter. 

 We are on the eve of a great cattle shortage and the wise farmer who 

 is in position to secure a foundation for a good herd of cattle should take 

 advantage of present relatively low prices. 



The horse show was magnificent. From a quality standpoint it was 

 the finest that has ever been held before in this country, and from a 

 standpoint of size it was no less imposing. As usual, the Percheron 

 breed far outnumbered the other breeds of draft horses. The Percheron 

 show was also very strong in quality and weight. Ton horses were much 

 in evidence. The classes were unusually large and imported stallions 

 were plentiful. Importers had evidently done their best in gathering the 

 cream of the Percheron crop from across the water — each with a deter- 

 mination of winning the best prizes. In spite of this strong showing, 

 home breeders did remarkably well. They held their own, showing that 

 we can raise as good horses in this country as they can in France. The 

 time is here when it is no longer necessary to cross the ocean to get the 

 best the Percheron breed affords. This, of course, is not news, but the 

 prizes that were won by several home-bred stallions against the best sires 

 France affords, emphasized this point in a marked degree this year. This 

 is a fact that farmers should allow to become deeply impressed upon 

 their minds. This year's show records emphasized what we have so often 

 said that there is no country in the world that is better adapted for the 

 production of draft horses than certain sections of the United States. 

 American-bred mares have for years successfully competed against im- 

 ported individuals, but American-bred stallions have perhaps never done 

 better in the show ring than they did at Des Moines this year. 



The Belgian, Shire, and Clyde shows were also very strong and breeders 

 and importers had ample reason for pointing with pride to their exhibits. 

 The Belgian classes especially were very large and the competition for 

 honors keen. Several of the stallion classes were so well filled that many 

 very excellent individuals could not get within the money. Some of those 

 close to the foot of the rings were as good as the best in former years. 

 To occupy the lowest place within the money in the Belgian classes was 

 a mark of great distinction. 



In the cattle division the Shorthorns made the strongest showing ever. 

 The rings were crowded to the utmost. J. Deane Willis of England, one 

 of the leading stockmen and cattle judges of Europe, who judged the 

 Shorthorns, remarked concerning the cattle show: "It is the finest in 

 the world." Since the Shorthorns, as usual, outnumbered the other beef 

 breeds they naturally came in for a great deal of credit in the above 

 estimate of Mr. Willis. As a nation we are rapidly coming to the fore- 

 front in the breeding world and we predict that it will not be long 

 before the American breeder will take first rank as an improver of live 

 stock. 



