1904 St. Louis World's Fair

Large Yorkshire Show

Large Yorkshire Boar

The Large Yorkshire breed was just beginning to take off in the United States in 1904.  Yorkshire hogs were long, all-white hogs with pointed ears.  They were "radically different from the lard-hog of the Corn-belt," because of the tremendous height, length and depth of which this breed of swine was known.  These pigs had characteristics that would have been undesirable in other breeds.  There were 129 Large Yorkshire hogs that competed. 

One Large Yorkshire exhibit that drew a lot of attention was that of Lord Roseberry's herd of Scotland.  They had tremendous size and many people enjoyed seeing them.

This new and revolutionary breed was the subject of controversy within the breed at the fair.  Many breeders had tried to breed their Yorkshires to reduce the factors that would be considered undesirable in the other kinds of swine.  They shortened the nose, broadened the face, lowered the leg and broadened the carcass.   The judge, Prof. J. J. Ferguson, "adhered to the extreme bacon type pleasing to the packers, the longest and deepest-sided pigs."  This caused many outcries and  protests in the arena during and after the show. 

Winners of each class are as follows:

• Aged Boars: Lakeview Bill; J. E. Brethour, Ontario, Can.

• Sr. Yearling Boars: S. H. Colton Eclipse; W. E. Rockhill, Etna Green, IN

• Jr. Yearling Boars: Lake Park Victor; T. H. Canfield, Lake Park, MN

• Sr. Boar Pigs: S. H. Perfection; T. H. Canfield

• Jr. Boar Pigs: Lake Park Peformer; T. H. Canfield

• Aged Sows: S. H. Bottesford Empress; T. H. Canfield

• Sr. Yearling Sows: S. H. Lady 5th; T. H. Canfield

• Jr. Yearling Sows: S. H. Dalmeny Empress 31st; T. H. Canfield

• Sr. Sow Pigs: S. H. Topsy 8th; T. H. Canfield

• Jr. Sow Pigs: Oak Lodge Julia 35th; J. E. Brethour

• Premier Championship for Exhibitor: T. H. Canfield

• Premier Championship for Breeder: J. E. Brethour

References: The Breeders Gazette, Oct. 12, 1904

Photos from Irwin Collection.

This page was designed Jim Phillips and is maintained by Lyndon Irwin. 

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