340 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Swift, and other Shorthorns, the Shorthorn bullock, Clarence Kirklevington (a 

 younger, though heavier and better matured animal than the imported Black 

 Prince), took the championship premium over all his competitors. This cham- 

 pion Shorthorn was shown at three successive fat-stock shows in Chicago, always 

 taking the first honors over all other breeds. He was shown first as a yearling, 

 weighing at that time 1,620 lbs.; next at two years old, weighing 2,048 lbs.; then at 

 three years old, weighing 2,400 lbs., here establishing the superiority of the Short- 

 horns for early maturity. 



The grade Shorthorn steer, Charles Ross, the winner of first premium and sweep- 

 stakes premium for all grades of all breeds and crosses at Chicago, the past season, 

 shows a daily gain of 1.81, while Black Prince shows a daily gain of 1.43; Nether- 

 wood Jock (an Augus) shows a daily gain of 1.35, all three years old. Orio, a 

 yearling Shorthorn, shows a daily gain of 2.50, while the next best yearling 

 slaughtered was a Hereford, Joseph, showing a daily gain of 2.22. We will ta' e 

 the yearly gains of the beef breeds shown at Chicago. The, Shorthorn steer, 

 "Storm," at two years old weighed 1,515 lbs., at three years old weighed 2,060 lbs., 

 a gain of 545 lbs. The champion Shorthorn steer, McMuIlei-, at two years old 

 weighed 2,095 lbs., at three years old weighed 2,560 lbs., a gain of 465 lbs. The 

 Shorthorn steer Schooler, made a gain last year of 612 lbs., while the Hereford 

 steer, Benton's Champion, made a gain of 390 pounds. The Hereford steer Tuck 

 made a gain of 485 pounds. Again, take the average weight of two-year-olds shown 

 at five successive fat stock shows at Chicago. 



Two-yearold grade Shorthorns average 1.702 lbs.; two-year-old Shorthorns 

 average 1,670 lbs.; two-year-old Herefords average 1,577 lbs.; two-year-old Devons 

 average 1,113 lbs. 



Early maturing Shorthorn largely ahead in the two-year-old ring. 



Take the one-year-olds shown at Chicago for five successive years : One-year- 

 old Shorthorns average 1,382 lbs.; one-year-oW Herefords average 1,225 lbs. Again 

 you see the superior early-maturing Shorthorn largely in the lead. 



In all the tests made at the fat stock shows at Chicago competing against the 

 very best Angus-Aberdeen, Herefords, Holstein, and Galloways that could be found 

 in the country, the Shorthorn has fairly and firmly established his superiority 

 over all other breeds of beef cattle for early maturity, rapid growth, superb car- 

 cass, and largest percentage of dressed beef to live weight. 



DISCUSSION. 



Mr. Mitchell. Gentlemen, you have listened to Mr. Thompson's very interest- 

 ing paper, and now the subject is before you for discussion. Remember that these 

 meetings are just what you make them, and that the best work of such meetings 

 consists in the free discussion of all subjects submitted for your consideration. 

 Let us hear from you. 



Dr. Forsythe. I«will venture to make some suggestions in regard to the methods 

 of some of our home breeders which I think deserve criticism. Why is it that 

 while we have among us in Indiana, many excellently well-bred young bulls, when- 

 ever one of our breeders wants to add a bull to his herd, he thinks it necessary to 



