106 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



the present time more or less clearly defined. We are open to conviction 

 in this as in other matters, but must confess that we do not believe the 

 dual purpose breeds or grades of the same to be universally suited to the 

 needs of this State. Those men in those sections of the south already 

 referred to, care but little about the dairy business. Up in the north we 

 have found that beef raising is over-shadowed by dairying, so that each 

 particular section has 'its own specific needs. 



We shall leave it to those men following who represent different sections, 

 to discuss their own conditions, but there are a few things which we might 

 say in a general way, which are equally applicable to every stock grow- 

 ing county of the State. 



The great beef growing sections of the corn belt and of the far west, 

 have gone directly to the foundation of success, they have wasted no time 

 in experimenting with middle purpose breeds, but have spent their money 

 lavishly in buying the very best beef sires to be had among the herds of 

 the east. We find this condition of affairs is a thing of the past. At the 

 last International Exposition steers graded from the old native Texan 

 by the use of pure bred Hereford sires, were able to meet in competition 

 and to defeat some of the best products of the feed lots of the middle 

 west. Therefore we cannot claim as in the past that the beef of Michigan 

 goes to supply a superior trade. The packers tell us that much of the 

 beef coming to Chicago, is range bred and range fed, and further it is 

 an actual fact that when our State Experiment Station desires high 

 grade steers in any numbers for feeding experiments, they must go to 

 Chicago and buy these western steers. So, we frankly admit that the tide 

 has turned and that today we must compete on the same level with the 

 feed lots of the corn belt and the cheap grass of the range country. We 

 can scarcely hope to produce beef as cheaply as they can in the west, 

 consequently we must look to it that there is a decided improvement in 

 the beef quality of the steers we send forward. Breed and feed must 

 always continue to be perhaps equally important factors in this improve- 

 ment, one is of little use unless seconded by the other. 



As to breed, a man can make no mistake in selecting high grade or 

 pure bred Shorthorn, Hereford, or Aberdeen Angus sires for grading up 

 purpose. We believe there is no place for Galloways or Devons in com- 

 petition with these breeds, but when a man has once made a selection we 

 cannot see any possible advantage from using in turn sires of the different 

 breeds mentioned. Uniformity is a prime essential if one expects market 

 topping prices. Uniformity never can be secured by following up this 

 mixing process. Select your breed, purchase the best sires your means 

 will permit, stick continuously to it, and in the course of a very few years 

 you will have a class of animals which, to all intents and purposes, are 

 pure breds. 



The second great essential is proper feed. Along this line we have to 

 distinguish very carefully between those feeds which are suitable for the 

 laying on of flesh and fat and those which give a maximum production of 

 dairy product. This.question of feed can best be handled by those men 

 who are to follow dealing with different localities and the methods which 

 they have found both successful in their own practice. 



