Gross Weight 1963 1795 1614
Net Weight 1317 1179 1055
Offal 452 389 394
Dressing per cent 67.1 65.7 65.3
Fore Quarters 354 308 277
371 303 275
Hind Quarters 287 283 247
305 285 256
Tallow 178 155 145
Hide 106 90 99
Head 55 47 49
Neither of these steers had marbled flesh. One family who ate some of
one of the steers was said to have been made sick, due to the excessive
fatness.
The feeders of this time gave very little or no attention to the
marbling of meat. All they noted was whether an animal was getting
fat or not. They didn't notice whether they were putting the fat on
evenly.[26]
From the very earliest improvement of cattle in Illinois, Shorthorn
blood has been used more extensively than that of any other breed. They
were the first pure bred cattle brought into the state and were the
only pure bred cattle in the state for several years. They were more
generally known by farmers throughout the state and at a very early
date were found in almost every county.
Hereford cattle have ranked next to Shorthorns, both in number and
popularity.
"About 1870, Herefords began to play an important part in beef
production in this state, and it was only a few years after this time
that they were taken into Sangamon county, where Shorthorns had first
gotten their strong hold."[27]
"The competition between the Herefords and the Shorthorns grew stronger
each year. In February of 1885, the Shorthorn Breeders' Association,
in session, decided to ask each member to contribute fifteen cents for
each Shorthorn owned by him, to be used for the good of the Shorthorn
interest. The rivalry between the different breeds of cattle was so
sharply defined and closely pressed that they thought it indispensable
to the protection and prosperity of the Shorthorn interest and thought
the State Association of Shorthorn Breeders should be kept in an active
and strong existence."[28]
The following is a summary of reports gathered by the Bureau of Animal
Industry in 1885, by sending out questionnaires to different parts
of the state, showing the breed of cattle that has been used moot
extensively in cattle improvement.
_State as a Whole_