GROWING AND FITTING CATTLE FOR EXHIBITION 33! 



must be large to properly maintain flesh, and it should 

 be rich in carboh3'drates. In this way undue depletion 

 in the system will be prevented. 



The duration of the show career of a female in the 

 fat classes varies much. This period is much influenced 

 by the individuality of the animal and also by the skill 

 of the feeder. Some young females thus grown fail to 

 breed, and, therefore, never enter the show ring in the 

 breeding classes beyond the one-year form. Other 

 females again have appeared in the breeding classes and 

 win every year until they are 7 or 8 years old. The 

 latter instances are very rare, but some such may be 

 cited. Usually a female does not appear again in the 

 breeding classes beyond the age of 4 years. It is dif- 

 ficult to secure the fine bloom required in winners after 

 they have been made to possess it for two or three suc- 

 cessive seasons, while on exhibition. If a female has 

 not been fitted for exhibition prior to maturity, it is 

 probable that she will stand the pressure of fitting an- 

 nually for a longer time than if shown at an earlier 

 period. 



That the high pressure feeding called for in fitting 

 such animals for exhibition is antagonistic to good breed- 

 ing is universally conceded. To so great an extent does 

 this opinion prevail that the continued exhibiting of 

 such animals is usually spoken of by breeders as a sacri- 

 fice, which is compensated for by the advertising which 

 it furnishes. Nevertheless, the difference in feeders in 

 ability to carry such animals on through successive years 

 of showing is very great. If breeding animals could be 

 shown in flesh less high than is usual, their breeding 

 powers would not be so frequently injured, but up to the 

 present time very high fitting only stands a chance of 

 winning in the beef classes. 



Exhibiting dairy and dual types. — The exhibiting 

 of cattle in the dair}^ and dual classes is a very different 

 proposition from exhibiting the same in the beef classes, 



