3-034-843 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Prize cattle and sheep at the Smithfield Club Show, 1871. 'At Islington [in London], on Saturday last, a good deal of excitement prevailed as the beasts arrived, inasmuch as some of them were suffering from foot-and-mouth disease; and, in accordance with the rules of the Privy Council, they would be rejected. This happened in the case of eighteen, and thirty others were not forthcoming; the show, consequently, was a little short in numbers, and, viewed in comparison with former exhibitions, can only be described as a moderate display. The excellence, however, of Mr. Stratton's white ox, Mr. Bruce's black heifer, and some of the pens of sheep, redeemed the weakness of several classes, and made the show well worth seeing; indeed, by the large number of visitors that were present on Tuesday and Wednesday. it appears to be more popular than ever...Mr. Stratton's white ox, which took the £100 plate as the best beast in the hall, somewhat made up for the weak show of shorthorns'. From "Illustrated London News", 1871.