Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1922-07-29
AGRICULTURAL NOTES
By Dan shafer. County Agent
SHOWING DAIRY CATTLE
BY r. S. nulce


There are several reasons why
owners Of good live stock should ex-
hibit. A first class rep. esentation Of
any breed is an important element in
the promotion Of breed interests.
Many man considering the choice of
a breed has been Influenced in his
choice by the character Of the breed
exhibits he has seen. Beginners who
have already started the breeding Of
live stock are encouraged, and obtain
much information at live stock shows.
Breed and az lcuItural associations
have long realized these facts and con-
sequently prize money is offered to
stimulate the realization of the ends
in view
There are very great advantages
that come 20 the individual exhibitor
in the way o. advertising his own ami
mails. A breeder was located n a com
munity where the sale Of pure bred
dairy cattle was rather slow 1t was
decided to try out the advertising eff
fects Of exhibiting at fairs. The re-
suits briefly were that enough prize
money was won to practically pay ex-
penses and the inquiries for stock and
sales later made, more than justified
the adventure from every standpoint.
The element Of competition does and
should enter in very strongly We
like to know whether or not an animal
we own is better individually than the
one exhibited by someone else. If
we win, the satisfaction would in many
cases be sufficient without prize
money. The placings, if not made ac-
cording to our ideas, may or may not
change our prejudices, but we must
learn to be good losers as well as good
winners. A prominent breeder and
exhibitor of swine makes the state
ment that he learned more about
swine the week that he exhibited at a
neighboring state fair, where he lost
heavily, than he had ever learned
about swine before,
Dairy animals to be selected for
fitting should have good size for their
4 age, possess straight top lines, good
middles and clean-cut features in gem
eral. In females, udder development,
including size, shape, quality and we'll
placed teats are important. Cows in
milk or about to freshen show to an
advantage. At the 1920 National
Dairy Show all Of the aged Holstein
cows that placed in the money were
4 dry, except one.
A good fitting ration might consist
of equal parts by weight of wheat
bran, ground oats, hominy and oil
meal. Bran and oats tend to Tighten
the ration and give variety; the hom-
I my puts on soft flesh and the oil helps
to condition the animal and put on
a sleek coat Good clover or alfalfa
hay and corn silage are important.
The silage, however, should be dis
continued sometime before the animals
leave home, so that they will be re
ceiying the same feeds that are to be
+ fed while at the fair
Each animal should be stabbed and
blanketed several weeks before the
date for showing. The animals may
be clipped or the long hair may be
worked out by brushing the body with
coarse sand paper tackled TO block
for convenience in handling.
The purposes of blanketing are:
/ % Keep the animal clean;
CO. Sweat the hide and better its
handling qualities;
CD Help shed old hair and make
the rest lay to the body.
TO be continued next week.