TYPES OF POULTRY EXHIBITIONS 475 



Poultry shows and exhibits have so increased in numbers and 

 importance that a professional can now start early in the fall and 

 make a circuit of the larger shows, and thus have birds on exhi- 

 bition nearly all the show season. 



The exhibitor can choose from two types of shows, — namely, 

 county and State fairs and pure poultry exhibitions. The former 

 are patronized to quite an extent by the small breeder who has 

 not yet attained such a degree of perfection as will permit him 

 to compete at the larger and special poultry shows. They are 

 also frequented by the breeder on a large scale as a means of 

 getting his birds into shape for the winter shows. He has a 

 chance to win some prizes, which will offset the need of special 

 effort at home. 



Types of Poultry Exhibitions. — There are four distinct classes 

 of poultry exhibits: Standard-bred poultry, exhibits which rep- 

 resent merely utility value, exhibits of poultry products, and 

 educational poultry exhibits. 



Standard-bred 'poultry predominates, and is found more or 

 less in all poultry exhibitions, regardless of the primary object. 

 The breeding of standard-bred poultry should be, and is, the chief 

 aim of the great majority of poultry breeders, whether they seek 

 ultimately to gain distinction by breeding prize winners or by 

 producing market eggs or the best market poultry. Hence the 

 exhibition of birds which are standard-bred as to color pattern, 

 weight, and shape is a matter of vital interest to all. 



Utility Features. — Exhibitions of poultry for their utility or 

 commercial food value are now enjoying considerable popularity, 

 and are becoming a regular side issue of the standard poultry 

 exhibition. Prizes are offered, and competent judges appointed to 

 award them. The birds are arranged in two classes, — live and 

 dressed; each may be subdivided, according to their commercial 

 value, as fowls, large roasters, light roasters, large, medium, and 

 squab broilers, and capons. Prizes are awarded according to 

 weight, shape, and appearance. In view of their increasing popu- 

 larity, these exhibitions will no doubt be extensively developed in 

 the near future. 



Exhibitions of poidtry products now take place in connection 

 with regular shows, and are becoming even more popular than 

 the utility exhibits. These products are usually eggs, prizes 

 being offered and classes arranged for white and browTi eggs, for 

 eggs from the different standard breeds, and for commercial eggs 



