150 MISSOURI AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



high class beef making quahty is antagonistic to the cultivation of the 

 real dairy quality. I do not consider the combination inconsistent with 

 scientific breeding. In fact, it seems true at least in the Shorthorn 

 breed of cattle that the two qualities go hand in hand and the one is 

 interlinked with the other, for the best beef producing dams are the 

 best milkers. There was a splendid illustraton of this point at the 

 great International this year. Indeed, I once heard a noted Hereford 

 breeder say that even his very best breeding cow gave a large supply 

 of milk. The two greatest Shorthorn breeders in Scotland are strong 

 advocates of the dual purpose in their cows, and it is known the non- 

 milkers are weeded out. 



While I believe the combination cow is the best cow for the 

 greatest number of farmers, it must not be claimed that any one type 

 is best for all conditions under all circumstances in all localities. 

 Wide as may be her sphere of usefulness localities and conditions 

 may exist and do exist wliere the special purpose type is best adapted. 

 For such a condition the roaming herds of the western plains might 

 be cited, where calves are raised by the thousand and where the best 

 attention that the cow receives is her own natural instinct. Beef 

 is the prime object and the dairy quality is not considered and may 

 even be objectionable as the cow cannot receive that attention neces- 

 sary to a very heavy milker at calving, when the young born con- 

 sumes but little. Under tHese conditions the special beef type is found 

 and this is why the special beef breeds have grown popular on the 

 range. 



As these immense herds grow less, and as the great pastures are 

 cut up in smaller farms, where cultivation and cattle raising are com- 

 bined, then the dual purpose cow finds a home. The real cow for the 

 average farm or small farm should produce a high class beef animal 

 v/hich when weaned off can supply a good quality of milk and butter 

 for use. Such is the ideal cow for the middle states and further east. 

 Let her be good size, say 1400 to 1600 pounds, a gentle, quiet disposi- 

 tion, a strong constitution, a good grazer, apt to fatten when dry and 

 you have the ideal animal, a friend to the farmer. 



DISCUSSION — RAG WEED 11 A V. 



Mr. Gabbcrt — I know if I was going to a doctor for some disease 

 I would go to a specialist for that disease. I would not go to some 

 practitioner who professed to cure every -ill. I believe if I was going 

 to raise cattle I would want a distinct breed. I think it would take 

 a good deal to make a good beef animal and a good milch cow at the 



