STATE DAIRY ASSOCIATION, 377 



How old is the cow problem? If we search the Bible records, we 

 find this is not the latest question of the day. These dairymen and 

 Sunday school teachers at least are fully aware of the account in holy 

 writ of Jacob and Rachel. It started out with a love affair, but it ended 

 by Jacob getting the girl of his choice and also the better end of a 

 large herd of cattle — you will remember how Jacob traded with his 

 father-in-law, wherein Jacob was to have all calves that were ring- 

 streaked and striped — how he placed striped sticks in the watering 

 place and the new born cattle were colored so they belonged to Jacob. 

 This was the beginning of the cattle problem, and from that ancient 

 time down to the present men have been trying to breed certain colors 

 and certain forms and certain qualities into their herds which they de- 

 sired. Then it was a question of color ; now it is a question of quality 

 or a' combination of qualities. 



UNIVERSAL DEMAND FOR HER. 



We do not believe there is a domestic animal today, as conditions now 

 exist, in more universal demand the world over than the dual purpose 

 cow. No farm east or west but is benefited by her most useful combina- 

 tion, unless we except the exclusive special purpose dairy farm. The 

 strength of her claim is the universality of her sphere. Perhaps her most 

 natural home is on the small farm or the average farm. Her annual 

 credit account is a good supply of milk and butter for the family and a 

 lusty, vigorous calf that matures into a high class carcass of beef. In this 

 capacity she turns to the very best account. When her best working days 

 are over and she is dried off, she readily and quickly fattens off into a 

 fine carcass, and the last account of her on the block is no mean considera- 

 tion. We are far from being at war with any improved breed. The 

 scrub breed is our only enemy. Against him we will combine forces 

 with any recognized breed. We envy not the special purpose breed. He 

 also has his sphere, and certain conditions call for him. But there is a 

 special purpose breed and there is a dual purpose breed. Each will adapt 

 itself to conditions that suit. The dual purpose is for the many, for the 

 masses — the special purpose is for the few, for the classes. I wish to 

 illustrate this distinction by a letter lately received from a breeder whose 

 judgment I regard first class. He had visited a herd of note which I had 

 not seen, so I wrote and asked him about his visit and the herd. He an- 

 swered about the herd in question, saying : "It is a large herd, in fact, 

 it is three herds ; breeding herd, a show herd and a herd of nurse cows." 

 Now, the breeder of real dairy cattle does not know much about a herd 

 of nurse cows, but the breeder of the special beef type knows about them, 



