10 July, 1919.] Dual Purpose Cattle. 443 



general appearance to the Holstein except for tlae colour. They may be 

 just a little finer boned and a little smoother, with a slightly greater 

 tendency to flesh up easily. 



But really the difference is more in colour than in anything else. 



The milk of the Shorthorn cow will average nearly a half of 1 per 

 cent, richer in butter-fat than the milk of the Holstein. The calves of 

 the dual-purpose Shorthorn seem to rank just as well with the ordinary 

 feeder as the calves of the more beefy type. At any rate, the ordinary 

 farmer seems to fare just about as well whichever type he has. 



The Red Polls stand out more distinctly as a dual-purpose breed than 

 any other. They were bred originally in eastern England, about 200 

 miles south of where the Shorthorns originated. One hundred years 

 ago, in this section of England, there were two types of cattle, one of 

 which had no horns, and was of excellent dairy type. There was also 

 a horned type, of rather small frame, bright-red colour, with a white 

 or mottled face, much like the Hereford. 



Gradually, the farmers of this section of England began to mix the 

 two breeds, selecting all the time for solid red animals with no horns, 

 which were good both for producing milk and beef. By 1862 it was 

 realised that a new breed had been formed, and ever since then the 

 new breed has given a good account ol itself. Beginning with about 

 1873, the Red Polls have been brought over to this co'untry in rather 

 large numbers, although they are not nearly so popular as the da^ry 

 and beef breeds. 



The ideal Red Poll cow looks very much like a good Shorthorn, 

 being broad over the back, short-legged, deep in the chest, and with 

 thick thighs, while at the same time the udder is of good size, and the 

 cow possesses the ability to yield slightly more than the ordinary Jersey 

 or Gruernsey daily, her milk testing about 3.8 to 4 per cent. Red 

 Polled steers have often been shown at the International, and have 

 captured a few prizes, although they are ordinarily decidedly inferior 

 to' the true beef steers. The cows have been entered in competition 

 with the cows of the strictly dairy breeds, and while they have made 

 very good records, they have not surpassed the record of the Holstein, 

 Jersey, or Guernsey. Everything considered, the Red Poll occupies a 

 position very similar to that of the milking Shorthorn. 



A third dual-purpose breed was developed about 150 miles west 

 and a little south of where the Red Pells came from. They are much 

 like the Red Polls, except that they have horns, are a little smaller, 

 give a rather richer milk, and are finer-boned, with a rather deer-like 

 appearance. The Devon at one time was very popular in the eastern 

 States. To-day, however, we almost never hear of it as a beef breed 

 or a dairy breed. 



The Holstein, Ayrshire, and Brown Swiss have some claim to rank 

 as dual-purpose breeds. 



At any rate, the cows of these breeds, and especially the Ayrshires, 

 fatten off very readily when dry, and the steer calves fatten ofif fairly 

 well. The calves of the Brown Swiss are of good size, and bring 

 more money as veals at an earlier age than almost any other breads. 



