Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1876-10-26
LIV T STOCK,
CENTENNIAL LIVESTOCK EXHIBITION.

stock exhibition at the Centennial:
IF the recent Horse Show, held under the
auspices of the Centennial Commission, was
not, in extent and quality, what it should
have been-to worthily represent the equine
family of the United States of America
such cannot justly be said of the cattle show
now in progress Or the Livestock grounds
Of the Centennial exhibition. Not only does
Canada compete-and she does so, highly
to her credit-but England has sent across
the ocean some of her most choice herds.
The quality of the animals now under re-
view is wonderfully good for so numerous
a collection, being just AGO head, according
TO the official catalogue.
The various herds comprise English,
bred and imported herds from the Channel
Islands, Herefords, Devons, Black-nosed and
Sheeted Ayrshires, Holsteins and Galloways,
so-called here, but, to my view of the mat
ter, rather should these latter be named
Black Angus. There are also some good
specimens of draught oxen and a few grade
animals; again there are steers and heifers,
monsters of fairness and inutility, save as adj
vertisements for human folly, and the flesh
and adipose producing powers of cattle
fodder. s M~,-
Before / enter into any individual details
ofseparate herds, a word or two in general
Of the varied excellences of races and fami-
lies would save repetition. Thus the Short
horns Or improved Durhams are essentially
q beef-producing family, that, by a perver-
sion Of good JUDGMENT, some breeders have,
by persistence in Wrong-doing, caused to.
improve in their milking qualities but then
these same herds have invariably fallen off
in beef-producing power. A bovine family,
equally excellent in all valuable qualities. is
not to be found, nc more than a horse for
general purposes which is expected to be
endowed with all of the most choice attri-
butes Of horse flesh. In the human family
n individual is rarely, if ever, blessed with
8 combination of glorious talents. The
greatest among us can stand out nro-nsni-
nent in one, mediocre or nothing in most
others. Therefore, no breeder of sound
Judgment ought to seek to pervert nature.
His aim shonld be to aid her by selection of
the best and that the owners of herds now
here are alive to this fact is in the aggregate
aasy to be seen.
The pretty herds of Channel Island cattle
number among them some animals of sur
passing beauty. These little cattle are great
mixers, both in richness and in quantity.
As b~eef-producers they are of small value.
tina hnY1n hairf = III rl,4 n,I 41,o +r,.+.. IL.
gether too fine to admit of room to put up
flesh ; then their individual habit is adverse
70 all accumulation of adipose cushion. The
are a comely race, their snow
white faces full Of tlocility, their clean cut
legs, together with the depth of rib, giving
them great lung power, bespeak them es-
sentially useful as draught cattle. The
same may be said of the Devons, to which I
can add that. being u thrifty race. they are
safe to get on well in rough, rocky land.
They are active, intelligent animals, and
very kline as draught oxen. Some of the
Deyons run greatly to milk, which, though
good, is not to be compared with the milk
Of the Channel Island cows, be they from
Guernsey, Jersey or Attorney. Both Here
and Desons fatten well but neither of
them put up in proportion the same amount
OF high-priced beef as can on an equal guam
tity OF fodder be accumulated by the Short
horn family.
Next to the Channel Island cattle the
.Ayrshires can be reckoned as good mixers.
This family comprises two divisions, the
most choice, to my taste, being the Black