SHORTHORN BREEDERS. 



The annual meefing of the Indiana Shorthorn Breeders was held in the rooms 

 of the State Board of Agriculture, in the city of Indianapolis, January 27 and 28, 

 1885. In the absence of the President, Hon. W. W. Thrasher, the Vice-President, 

 Hon. Eobert Mitchell, took the chair and called the meeting to order. 



Mr. ,J. W. Kobe, the Secretary, moved that the calling of the roll be dispensed 

 with, owing to the extraordinary snow storm and delayed trains. The motion 

 was seconded and adopted. 



The morning session was informal and an occasion of social greeting and cor- 

 dial hand-shaking, without entering upon any regular routine of business. 



AFTEBNOON SESSION. 



The convention met at 2 o'clock, Vice-President Mitchell in the chair. 

 Mr. W. J. Carter, of Westfield, Ind., was appointed to make a short-hand report 

 of the proceedings of the meeting. 



Mr. J. A. Thompson, Edinburg, Ind., then read a paper on 



THE EARLY MATURITY OF THE SHORTHORNS AS COMPARED 

 WITH OTHER BREEDS, 



The subject assigned me is "Early Maturity of Shorthorns as Compared 

 with Other Breeds." 



I realize the fact that I am not as well qualified as many others of this con- 

 vention to do this subject justice, not having had the experience in the breeding 

 and handling of many of the improved cattle breeds of the country. 



My experience in breeding and handling cattle is confined to Shorthorns, grade 

 Shorthorns, so far as the beef breeds are concerned. In my experience in the 

 breeding, rearing and feeding cattle, the fact has been fully demonstrated to me 

 that the Shorthorn is a very valuable improvement on the common stock of the 

 country. His early maturity, rapid growth, greater weight, smaller hhrinkage, 

 much larger percentage of dressed beef to live weight in young as well as old ani- 

 mals, and beef of a better quality, being better matured and selling for more 



