The Live-Stock Exhibit
The first Exposition to offer a live-stock exhibit covering its entire period—Prizes total $440,000—Classification of competitions—New methods of displaying herds and flocks—Contests in dairy and beef cattle—Other exhibits range from high-bred horses, hens and sheep down to pet rabbits, rats and mice.
For the first time in the history of similar celebrations, this Exposition offers a continuous live-stock show. Other expositions have confined their live-stock exhibit to a few weeks during the time of award-making. Here, however, the show extends from the opening of the Exposition until its closing. The competitive period extends from September 23 to December 3. Naturally this will mark the high tide of the display. During this time the International Jury on Awards will distribute in cash prizes a total of $440,557. Of this amount, $190,000 has been given by the Exposition management, $100,327 by the breed record associations of the country, and $150,230 by various states to be used in prizes and the transportation of stock.
These attractive prizes will be distributed, among the well-established and well-known breeds of draft and light horses, ponies, beef and dairy cattle, sheep, swine, poultry, pigeons, and pet animals. All animals will be judged according to the rules of recognized breed associations. Foreign or other animals not recorded in the books of the associations named in the premium list will be judged by the standards of the associations to which their exhibitors belong.
The educational value of the live-stock show for the general public, as well as the stock breeder, has been emphasized in every department. The increased cost of living being a dominating topic for both producer and consumer, much attention has been centered on meat-producing animals. Liberal provision has been made in the prize list for fat classes in beef-cattle, sheep and swine.
When the Exposition management designed the live-stock section and planned the buildings for the various features of this department, an effort was made to create a model arrangement for exhibit purposes. So successful was this effort that a number of states have requested the plans for a ground layout. This portion of the Exposition cost the management approximately $150,000, and covers sixty-five acres. The buildings represent, in their equipment, the very latest development in the housing and caring for stock. The visitor first approaches from the east a quadrangle of eight large stables, enclosing the forum where the live-stock shows are held. These stables have a total accommodation of 1124 horses. The forum has a seating capacity of 2680 persons.
To the north of the stable quadrangle is Congress Hall, for the accommodation of conventions and other meetings, and containing also the administration offices of the chief of the live-stock department. On this side also are the corrals, feed storage barns, a service yard, and an area for open-air exhibits. To the south is the large dairy building, a dairy manufactures building, and the poultry exhibit building. The dairy building houses more than 300 animals. West of the stable group is the mile racecourse with its polo and athletic field.
One of the novel features of this show is the manner in which the view herds and flocks are displayed. These are seen in stalls and pens built at an angle of about forty-five degrees to permit the visitor to get a side view of the stock. The view-herd idea in itself is something new. These exhibits are purely educational in purpose, and non-competitive. They have been on display since the opening, and will continue until the close of the Exposition, thus enabling the visitor to see a creditable live-stock show, no matter at what season he may come. The view herds are selected by competent authorities, and represent the best of their respective breeds. Among such herds on exhibit are Shorthorn cattle, Berkshire swine and Percheron horses. These exhibits are changed from time to time.
In addition to these general features, the special events include the milk show, harness races, universal polo, wool grading, sheepdog trials, poultry show, and an international egg-laying contest.
For eleven classes of dairy cattle the Exposition offers awards, as follows: Jersey, Ayrshire, Guernsey, Holstein-Friesian, Dutch-Belted, Dairy Shorthorn, Brown Swiss, French-Canadian, Simmenthal, Kerry and Dexter, and Grade-Dairy Herd. This last is a recognition on the part of the Exposition of the great utility value of the grade-dairy cow, which forms the basis of the dairy industry, and yet could not exist without the pure-bred stock. In the beef-cattle group, the Exposition offers awards in the following classes: Short-Horn, Hereford, Aberdeen-Angus, Galloway, Polled Durham, Red Polled, Devon, Fat Cattle (by ages) and Car-lots.