HISTORY OF HEREFORD CATTLE 



485 



■ By no means. For, although the Shorthorn 

 is an unquestionably good foundation, upon 

 which to build up a grade herd, I consider that 

 equally good results as to form, and superior 

 as to color, can be obtained by crossing the 

 Hereford bull with the Devon or red Sussex 

 cows. And I have good reason to think that no 

 animal will catch the butcher's eye much 

 quicker than the grade produce of the Hereford 

 and Polled- Angus, or Galloway. Mr. Pry or 

 asks: 



Second. "Are not nine-tenths of all your 

 bulls sold for range purposes from grade Short- 

 horn cows?" 



Taking as an example my sale of bull calves 

 for next spring, a correct notice of which I see 

 in your columns, my answer is, certainly not. 



Third. "What proportion of them, if any, 

 are from grade Hereford cows?" 



In the above-mentioned bunch the proportion 

 of calves had from grade Herefords cows, 

 ranging from first to fourth cross, is somewhat 

 in excess of two- thirds. 



Six years ago I was fortunate enough to buy 

 thirty grade Hereford cows and heifers, pre- 

 sumably first and second cross. I have since 

 bred them to first-class Hereford bulls with 

 most satisfactory results. The increase has 

 been considerably above the average — the death- 

 rate almost nothing. Twenty-six out of the 

 thirty original cows will to-day face the tally ; 

 and yet these delicate cattle have been obliged 

 to "snifE the breeze and stem the blizzards" at 

 an altitude of 8,000 feet, without the assistance 

 of either 15 cent cribs of Kansas corn, or suc- 

 culent alfalfa. 



I do not wish to enter into the question of 

 superiority of herds; so long as my own pud- 

 ding finds favor I am satisfied. But when Mr. 

 Pryor claims, or rather insinuates that the re- 

 sult of a first cross between Herefords and 

 Shorthorns produces a better calf than can be 

 obtained by inbreeding to third or fourth cross 

 Hereford cows, I must respectfully beg to diifer 

 with him, always supposing the would-be pur- 

 chaser to be looking for "Hereford grades." 

 Yours truly, 



Theodore Whtte. 

 Estes Park, Jan. 4th. 



Mr. Theodore Whyte was a breeder of Here- 

 ford cattle, and Mr. Pryor was a breeder of 

 Shorthorns in Colorado. 



MR. CULBERTSON TO ILLINOIS BOARD OF AGRI- 

 CULTURE. 



Gentlemen: Inasmuch as many absurd 

 awards were made at our last Fat Stock Show, 



which have caused wide comment among cattle 

 men, I beg leave to submit the following expres- 

 sion of my views, feeling assured, from con- 

 versation with many there present, that I speak 

 the sentiment of a great majority of breeders, 

 feeders, exhibitors, and cattlemen generally, 

 independent of atfinity for any particular breed 

 of cattle. So far as my own exhibit was con- 

 cerned, I expected nothing, and consequently 

 was not disappointed. 



I have just passed through our sixth Annual 

 Fat Stock Show, and I am pleased to say that, 

 from year to year, we have continually im- 

 proved in the exhibit in the cattle department, 

 our last exhibit being adjudged the best ever 

 seen together on this continent. I wish the 

 same could be said of the judging. This is, 

 and ought to be, the Great American Beef 

 Show, the result and report of which is heralded 

 not only all Qver this country, but over Europe 

 also, hence, the very great importance of having 

 just awards made. But how and what are the 

 facts in regard to the awards ? I do not believe 

 that there is one of you who does not feel deeply 

 mortified and ashamed of most of the more 

 important awards. The errors were so glaring 

 that it would seem no good excuse could be 

 made, or one, at least, that would have any 

 force in it. This show was created for a school, 

 at which all might come to compete and learn. 

 Inducements have been held out to make steers 

 and prepare and exhibit them — the best beef 

 animals to win. We have been promised, from 

 year to year, the best judges obtainable. We 

 have never had them (in my opinion). Illinois, 

 Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Ohio, Kentuck)', Kan- 

 sas, Minnesota and Canada, have come up here, 

 bringing with them their best cattle for judg- 

 ment. Has justice been done them? I think 

 you will say no. Please pardon me when I say 

 to you, in all sincerity, that if, in the future, 

 you cannot obtain more competent judges, it 

 will not be long before those who have taken 

 great pains to make steers, "using both skill 

 and patience in preparing their cattle," will 

 become completely discouraged and disgusted. 

 and the show, and the purposes for which it 

 was created, will be pronounced a by-word and 

 a mockery. 



In my criticisms of the awards I shall touch 

 only on a few of the most important ones, fear- 

 ing that I may tire your patience. In the first 

 day's judging the Shorthorn steer Schooler 

 took third prize. He was the best two-year-old 

 Shorthorn in the show by all odds — a credit to 

 the breeder and feeder — hard to beat in any 

 ring, and worthy to compete for grand sweep- 



