204 



FARMER'S CYCLOPEDIA OF LIVE STOCK 



not only be pure bred, but must come 

 up to a certain high standard of per- 

 formance in milk yield, butter produc- 

 tion, etc. 



Expositions and fairs — Another im- 

 portant agency affecting the animal in- 

 dustry of the country is the national, 

 state and county expositions, stock shows 

 and fairs. 



International live stock exposition — 

 The greatest of these shows is the 

 International Live Stock Exposition, 

 held annually for a week at Chicago. 

 This exposition in recent years has been 

 attended by 50,000 to 100,000 people 

 daily. A fire proof pavillion 600 feet 

 long by 310 feet wide and 60 feet high 

 has been built. In the center of this 

 is a tan bark ring 235 feet long by 100 

 feet wide. In this great arena the 



the different breeds and thus have their 

 interest stimulated in better stock. 



The exposition is also attended in 

 large numbers by students from the 

 various agricultural colleges, accompa- 

 nied by their instructors. At the expo- 

 sition in 1905, 17 colleges, in addition to 

 the province of Ontario, sent students. 

 Teams of five students each from seven 

 of these colleges took part in a com- 

 petitive contest in judging the different 

 animals. Such work as this is exceed- 

 ingly valuable and practical, and gives 

 students a clear conception of what is 

 desirable in an animal for the different 

 purposes of meat, speed, work, wool and 

 milk. 



The colleges and experiment stations 

 of the country also make extensive ex- 

 hibits at this exposition, and in many 



FRONT VIEW (IF SI IlMl'Sl I IKES READY FUR EXHIBITION AT THE FAIR 



best specimens of all the breeds in 

 America compete' for prizes. Around it 

 are boxes and tiers of seats, which 

 afford a good view of the animals in 

 the arena and the work of the judges. 



At the meeting in 1905 nearly 3,000 

 cattle, sheep, swine and horses were 

 entered in the catalog of the exposition, 

 aside from the entries for prizes of- 

 fered by the breeding associations, etc, 

 and the carload lots shown in the stock 

 yards. 



Educational value of exposition — 

 Large numbers of breeders and stock- 

 men from all over the country attend 

 these meetings, either to show stock 

 for prizes or keep track of the prize- 

 winning animals, and perhaps, buy or 

 sell stock. In addition, thousands of 

 farmers and stockmen are present and 

 are enabled to see the best specimens of 



cases carry off the winning prizes; thus 

 showing that these institutions are keep- 

 ing in full touch with the practical side 

 of breeding and feeding animals, and 

 indicating that the boy who attends 

 these institutions to learn the live stock 

 business will get practical instruction. 



At the international expositions, like 

 those at St. Louis, Buffalo, etc, exten- 

 sive live stock exhibits constitute one of 

 the drawing features of the exposition, 

 and are made educational factors for 

 all farmers and stockmen visiting these 

 shows. 



State and county fairs — The state 

 and county fairs serve to stimulate and 

 encourage the production of higher 

 grades of stock. The first fair held in 

 the United States w?= in 1810, in Pitts- 

 field, Massachusetts. Since then the 



