248 A HISTORY OF SHORT-HORN CATTLE. 



America that permeated the entire industry 

 and influenced in marked degree the work of 

 leading breeders at home and abroad for many 

 succeeding years. 



Revival of interest in the West. It was a 

 trying ordeal the business passed through in 

 Ohio and Kentucky during the "forties." Lit- 

 tle more than butchers' prices could be real- 

 ized. At the time the George and Jonathan 

 Renick herds were offered (1844-1846) not more 

 than $130 could be obtained for the best. The 

 value of the blood had been fully demonstrated, 

 but farmers generally were financially unable 

 to avail themselves of it save at extremely low 

 prices. The large landed proprietors, however, 

 maintained their herds and manifested their 

 interest by exhibiting stock at the various local 

 fairs.* By 1850 times had brightened, and the 

 Ohio State Agricultural Society held its initial 

 show near Cincinnati, Harness Renick winning 



* In a report of the Ross County Fair for 1849, in the Ohio Cultivator, it is 

 said that " the Durham Short-horns were exhibited in all their sleekness 

 and beauty. These are, very justly, the pride of the principal farmers and 

 herdsmen of the Scioto Valley. We have never seen better animals of this 

 class than were exhibited on this occasion from the herds of Geo. Renick, 

 Dr. A. Watts, J R. Anderson, Alexander Renick, etc. As a whole it ex- 

 celled in quality the show of this breed at either of the New York fairs." 



The report gives the weights of several Short-horn bullocks on exhibi- 

 tion; among 1 them a steer of Dr. Watts, three years old in April, weighed, 

 Oct. 5, 2,200 Ibs. ; pne, two years in February, weighed, Oct. 5, 1,730 Ibs. From 

 the herd of George Renick a bulloek of "great perfection of form," five 

 years, weighed 2,800 Ibs. Six others, only three years, weighed 1,850, 1,750, 

 1,720, 1,680, 1,670 and 1.664 Ibs. These cattle had not been forced as is the 

 modern practice, having only good grass in summer. Hon. T C> Jones, in 

 Breeder's Gazette, Oct. 5, 1882. 



