3-056-392 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Smithfield Club Cattle Show: prize sheep and pigs, 1873. 'The show of sheep was the largest that has yet taken place, numbering 188 entries...[Among] those which appear in our Engraving, we first take the sheep that stand in the foreground. These are fat wethers of the Oxfordshire breed...from Woodstock bred and exhibited by the Duke of Marlborough, who won the first prize and the £20 cup, for the best in the Oxfordshire, Shropshire, and crossbred classes. Those at the top are the Southdown fat wethers of Lord Walsingham, from Thetford Hall, Norfolk, which took the first prize and silver cup in their class, and the champion plate of £50, as the best sheep in the whole show...With respect to pigs, the show was not so good as on some former occasions; but there were some very good. Two of a pen of three, under twelve months old, exhibited by his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, are represented by our Artist; but the mass of wholesome fat pork in the rear is one of the black improved Dorsets...bred by Mr. Charles M'Niven...which gained the champion £20 cup as the best pigs in the Agricultural Hall. Of the pigs under nine months of age, Mr. John Biggs...showed wonderful Berkshires; and the Marquis of Ailesbury won honours in this class'. From "Illustrated London News", 1873.