The Worlds Fair stock show opened with a grand parade show featuring the finest of cattle.  In this parade, some of the Brown Swiss wore “sweet-toned” bells like they would have in the mountains of their native Switzerland. It was claimed that “it provided sweet sounds throughout the parade.”

Florine 12 was Champion Brown Swiss Cow

The Brown Swiss was exhibited as a large breed of dairy cattle in 1904.  Some even considered the Brown Swiss to be a beef breed.  They were said to be, “coarse, tight-hided, down-in-the-back, big-boned, and rough kind.”

 It was said that rather than worry about the beef, its main focus should be to develop milk production of this breed.  They did this by working on the development of the udder, which was a cardinal virtue for cows of any dairy breed.

Many prize winning Brown Swiss bulls competed in St. Louis.

 The breed was said to be distinctly American; there were few imported entries at the Worlds Fair.  Most of the cattle were furnished by men who had been breeding for many years without using much imported blood.

The champion cow, Florine 12th, remainedin St. Louis for the 120 dairy test .  This was a milk production test and cows of all dairy breeds were housed on the fairgrounds where they could be kept under similar controlled conditions. After the test, it was reported that Florine weighed 1,501 pounds.  She had produced 5,924 pounds of milk during the 120 day test.  Her milk contained 3.4% butterfat and 8.9% solids not fat.  It was noted in the test results that Florine was sick and out of the test from September 30 - October 6.  During that time she had given only 148 pounds of milk, so her record was credited with 265 pounds of milk based on previous and later production.

Brown Swiss Winners:

• Aged Bulls-Upland Hobby 1488; sire, Duke of River Meadow; F. R. Hazard, Syracuse, New York, $50

• 2 Year Olds- Upland Jethro 1633; sire, Supreme; F. R. Hazard, $50

• Senior Yearlings- Snob Imported; Freemeyer & McLaury, Portlandville, New York, $50

• Junior Yearlings- Upland Borne 1914; sire Supreme; F. R. Hazard, $35

• Senior Bull Calves- Huktuw; Freemeyer & McLaury, $35

• Junior Bull Calves- Jefferson Tom 1941; sire, Breino of Walballa; Freemeyer & McLaury, $35

• Aged Cows- Florine 12^th 1569; sire, Eddie Bonapart; McLaury Bros, $50

• 2 Year Olds- Duke’s Clotilda 2373; Freemeyer & McLaury, $50

• Senior Yearlings- Eliza of River Meadow 2611; sire, Duke of River Meadow; F. R. Hazard, $50

• Junior Yearlings- Thuretta 2598; sire, Breino; E.M. Barton, Hillsdale, Illinois, $35

• Senior Heifer- Alpine Lassie 2777; sire, Breino Wahalla; Freemeyer & McLaury, $35

• Junior Heifer Calves- Tigras 2814; sire, Clement; E. M. Barton, $35

• Senior Champion Bull- Upland Hobby 1488; sire, Duke of River Meadow; F. R. Hazard

• Senior Champion Cow- Florine 12^th 1569; sire, Eddie Bonapart; McLaury Bros.

• Grand Champion Bull- Upland Hobby 1488; sire, Duke of River Meadow; F. R. Hazard

• Grand Champion Female- Florine 12^th 1569; sire, Eddie Bonapart; McLaury Bros.

References: The Breeders Gazette (September 28, 1904); Dairy Cow Demonstration - A Record of all Breeds. 

Photos from Irwin Collection and Wisconsin Louisiana Purchase Exposition Report.

This page was designed by Mike Friedrich and is maintained by Lyndon Irwin. 

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