LECTURE XXII. 



DUAL PURPOSE CATTLE. 



Points to Be Observed in Selecting and Judging the Same. 



The dual purpose animal has, already been mentioned as 

 one adapted to produce a good flow of milk, at the same time 

 possessing such conformation as will ensure the making of 

 a profitable carcass of beef. Such an animal is adapted to 

 conditions intermediate between the extremes of beef raising 

 and dairying. 



Beef conformation is clearly understood; width of body, 

 spring of rib, and length and width of hindquarters are essen- 

 tial, and with this there must be natural flesh present on the 

 valuable parts. The weight of authority indicates that an 

 animal born with natural flesh will always possess it as long 

 as food is supplied in reasonable quantities; and the ex- 

 perience of hundreds of successful breeders shows that cows 

 of beef form, with a wealth of natural flesh, may yet be good 

 milkers. 



The milking properties, while also inherited to a very con- 

 siderable degree, may be modified and improved far more 

 by feed and management than the beefing properties can 

 be; for it is possible to take a heifer of excellent beef form, 

 with plenty of natural flesh, and by having her calve at a 

 period of the year when green feed is most abundant, and 

 by milking her for a long period for the first year, to de- 

 velop her dairy qualities to a very considerable extent; but 

 it is impossible to take an animal lacking in beef form, and 



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