236 



HISTORY OF HEREFORD CATTLE 



longing to T. L. Miller and the latter to J. D. 

 Gillette. 



For steers three and under four there was a 

 large number of entries. The steers taking the 

 awards were first a Shorthorn and second a 

 Devon : 



There were other Hereford steers before the 

 judges, perhaps better than this, but this is well 

 enough. 



For stee'rs, two and under three years, both 

 awards went to Shorthorns ; there was only one 

 Hereford entry. We give below the age, weight 

 and gain per day of the winning steers and of 

 the Hereford steer: 



.2 Name of Animal. 



a 



Date of Birth. 



_. W 



<! a 



1. Victoria Duke, G.S.H. Apr. 22, '77 



2. P. Cooper, G. S. H. Dec. 14, '76 

 0. Alex., G. Hereford Aug. 15, '77 



932 1532 1.64 

 1059 1534 1.44 

 820 1474 1.80 



This record needs no comment. 



For steers one and under two years old there 

 were fourteen entries three or four of those 

 were Herefords. The first and second premiums 

 went to Shorthorns. We give the following fig- 

 ures in reference to the winning steers and one 

 of the Herefords: 



This review of the four classes of grade steers 

 where the Herefords and Shorthorns were in 

 competition with the tables showing ages, 

 weights and average gain per day from birth, 

 is in each class in favor of the Herefords. The 

 only question remaining open is the one of 

 quality. To test this Mr. Miller, the owner and 

 exhibitor of the Hereford steers, made a propo- 

 sition to test these awards by dressing the bul- 

 locks as follows: 



Chicago, 111., Nov. 14, '79. 

 Hon. J. R. Scott, President of the State Board 



of Agriculture of Illinois: 

 The object of your Board is to determine, 



among other things, the comparative value of 

 th.i different breeds of beef animals. Among 

 other ways, expert judges of beef animals are 

 called upon to pass upon the merits of such 

 .animals as are brought before you. This will 

 determine the merits excepting the errors of 

 judgment and prejudices in favor of different 

 breeds. 



To correct such errors and prejudices, if any 

 exist, I will submit my cattle that have come in 

 competition with other breeds to the direction 

 of your Board, to be slaughtered as follows : 



My grade Hereford steer "Ben," four years 

 old, which took the first (1st) premium in Lot 

 5, against the four-year-old steer that took first 

 (1st) premium in Lot 6. 



My three (3) year-old steer Barney against 

 the first (1st) premium steer in Lot 5. 



My yearling steer Putnam against the first 

 (1st) premium yearling steer in Lot 5. 

 . My yearling steer General against the year- 

 ling steer that took first premium in Lot 6. 



My cow Jennie against the cow that took first 

 premium in Lot 6. 



The best of each of these animals to be deter- 

 mined by the quality of the meat of each ani- 

 mal, and the greatest amount of dressed meat 

 to the gross weight of each. 



Very respectfully yours, * 



T. L. MILLER. 



In reply to this proposition the following en- 

 dorsement was made, and the papers returned 

 to me: 



Illinois State Board of Agriculture, 

 Chicago, Nov. 15, 1879. 



Respectfully returned with the statement that 

 the matter contained herein has been duly con- 

 sidered by the Board, and that the Board has 

 decided not to depart from the published pro- 

 gramme for the Fat Stock Show in this request 

 at this late date. 



Jos. R. SCOTT, President. 



The following entries were made for the 

 premiums for dressed bullocks : 



Name of Animal. 



Date of Birth. 



3 



ca 



The above entries were made by parties as 

 follows: Boynton, by J. M. Brown & Sons, 

 Berlin, 111. ; Snowflake and Drake, by J. D. Gil- 

 lette, Elkhart, 111. ; Barney and Putnam, by T. 



