IN FOREIGN FIELDS 989 



Dr. Frers has taken special pride in the Here- 

 ford steers he has shown, and these have not only 

 been frequent winners, but have sold at fancy prices. 

 Speaking of the value of the Hereford for the meat 

 trade, he says: 



"The Hereford steers are rapidly coming into 

 favor, notwithstanding the prejudices of many 

 breeders and exporters. Until a few years ago the 

 average price obtainable for them was considerably 

 less than that for the mixed-bred Durham. It was 

 said that their net yield was less, but if so the 

 reason was obvious. All white-faced animals pro- 

 duced by Creole cattle and those of the lower grades 

 in general, were classed as Herefords, even though 

 they possessed no other charactertistic than the red 

 and white color. Those highly bred in Hereford 

 blood were very few in numbers. Indeed the Dur- 

 hams, with which they were compared, reached 

 vastly superior refinement. It should be borne in 

 mind that the proportion of the Hereford to the Dur- 

 ham is one to seven throughout the country. At 

 the present time good Hereford steers command 

 as high prices as any others at the public market, 

 as well as for export. At recent cattle shows we 

 have been triumphant. I have contributed three- 

 quarters and seven-eighths blood Hereford bullocks 

 that have secured on many different occasions the 

 gold medal as the best lot of steers without dis- 

 tinction as to breed, in competition with the best 

 Durham steers. 



"In my opinion there appears to be a great future 

 for the Hereford breed in this country, although I 

 think it will never entirely dislodge the Durham. 

 Indeed, I see no reason why it should do so. I 

 think the Herefords equal them both as to value 

 and economy of production. The Durham is some- 



