532 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



at the great shows of the past have had for dams phenomenal milkers, 

 so that it was not necessary to furnish a nurse cow to help out the dam. 

 We have always regretted that some of the breeders of Red Polls and 

 Polled Durhams have endeavored to make special purpose beef cattle 

 out of these breeds. In doing so they bring themselves into sharp com- 

 petition with the special beef breeds; and to do this effectively they pur- 

 chase sires of pronounced beef qualities, and thus get away from what 

 is really the special purpose in the development of these breeds. 



The development of the habit of milking is quite as important as 

 the inheritance of milking qualities; and to this end the cows intended 

 for the production of bulls to head these dual purpose herds should 

 be milked and thus form the habit. The fact is that it is milking that 

 develops milk cows, just as it is the practicing of the teachings of the 

 Master that develops followers of the Nazerene. No matter what milk- 

 ing qualities may be transmitted, no matter how great the potency is 

 in this line, unless the habit is formed the potency will not be trans- 

 mitted very effectively. 



This will require a change in the methods of the breeders of these 

 breeds that are valuable for what is known as the dual purpose, and 

 which we prefer to describe as the special purpose cow for the quarter 

 of half section farm, where it is necessary not merely to obtain the 

 quantity and quality of milk, but to provide packages in which the rougli- 

 age of the farm can be profitably transported to market ; in other words, to 

 condense freights. 



They must henceforth be able to state not merely that a cow is a 

 good milker, but how good a milker she is. We confess we are rather 

 tired of hearing at breeders' meetings the praise of the dual purpose 

 cow sung without any proof of it. It is not enough to be able to say: 

 "The dam of this bull is a splendid milker," or "Why, it is hard to keep 

 her udder from spoiling." or "She gives enough milk for two calves," 

 or, "She milks up to the time of calving." If this is true, then it is 

 possible to furnish the proof. There are so many men that like to 

 blow their own horns that buyers may well be excused from believing 

 unless the seller has the actual proof of it. as demonstrated by the 

 weighing and testing of the milk. 



Changes in our agricultural and animal industry are not introduced 

 by the blast of the trumpet. They come gradually, as the changes in the 

 seasons come; but the man who will study the development of agriculture 

 can scarcely fail to see that this change is coming, and that breeders 

 of breeds of cattle that are capable of being used for dual purpose must 

 aim to meet that double purpose, and to meet it in an intelligent way, 

 and in a way that will be convincing to the customer. 



This change has been coming for some time. It will come more 

 rapidly in the two or three years to come than it did in the past; for 

 experience is furnishing accumulated evidence every year that farms 

 now given over to exclusive corn growing, especially the best corn lands in 

 Illinois and Iowa, must hereafter be devoted to growing stock — horses, 

 hogs, sheep, or cattle. 



Inasmuch as it does not pay to keep a brood mare for the chance of 

 a colt, the profitable growing of horses is limited to the number of brood 



