548 



HISTORY OF HEREFOED CATTLE 



But this equalization was opposed by the 

 Shorthorn breeders outside, and by their friends 

 in the Board; and while all breeds were per- 

 mitted to compete for herd and sweepstakes 

 premiums, they were obliged to do so under 

 Shorthorn judges; and Shorthorn breeders and 

 advocates said to the Hereford breeders, "When 

 you can win before our agricultural shows, then 

 we want them." We have mentioned in detail, 

 elsewhere, the show for 1878. 



In 1879 the .judges were selected previous to 

 the fair, and no protest was permitted. This 

 year, and the year 1877, the judging was fairly 

 conducted—both 1877 and 1879 followed two 

 specially partisan years, the first under W. J. 

 ISTeely and Col. Judy, and the second under Col. 

 Judy, both Shorthorn breeders. We are not 

 advised fully, or are not authorized to speak 

 for the Board, when we say that the partisan 

 action in 1876 and 1878 brought the Board to 

 the determination to do something to check the 

 manipulations of the Shorthorn men. Still, we 

 believe that it is true. 



The inauguration of the Fat Stock Show was 

 an innovation upon the Shorthorn plans. They 



had been showing fat and barren cows; they had 

 selected the top animals from different herds, 

 and often these show herds represented a fair 

 fortune; and while the country was full of 

 these show herds and winning as breeding stock, 

 they could not bring a respectable showing of 

 cows that would win before the butcher. 



At the first Fat Stock Show in 1878, the 

 Hereford cow "Jennie" took the sweepstakes 

 premium for best cow in the show. The Here- 

 ford cow won the sweepstakes fairly in 1879, 

 though there might have been a chance for a 

 difference of judgment; but in 1880, of all the 

 partisan work that had been done, this was the 

 most glaring; and as an evidence that we do 

 not express simply an opinion from a Hereford 

 standpoint, we will say that of all the Shorthorn 

 writers that undertook to get comfort out of 

 that show, not one, as far as we know, made a 

 claim for winning the sweepstakes for the best 

 cow in the show. 



The judging in 1880, when the different 

 breeds came into competition, was first on 

 grades, and was wholly and entirely indefen- 

 sible. The judges were discharged for cause, but 



COURT HOUSE, PEMBRIDGE. HEREFORDSHIRE. 

 Residence of J. Price, Mr. Harry Yeld and Mr, John Price in the foreground. 



