28 Types and Market Classes of Live Stock 



is agricultural, and the percentage declined from 83 per cent in 1820 to 

 77.5 per cent in 1840, 47 in 1870, 35 in 1900, and 33.1 in 1910. The 

 consumers of food-stuffs in America have increased at a much more 

 rapid rate than the producers. The producer of live stock in this coun- 

 try is assured of ready sale for all his products at remunerative prices. 

 lythe special advantages of cattle as compared to other kinds of 

 live stock on the farm may be noted as follows: 



1. Cattle consume larger quantities and make more efficient use 

 of coarse and low-grade roughages produced on the farm, such as coarse 

 hay and com stalks and the coarser pastures of ranker growth. No 

 other farm animal will utilize so much of what otherwise would be waste 

 on the farm. 



2. Cattle can use the total production of grains and roughages on 

 the average farm, with or without the purchase of other feeds, more 

 efficiently than any other kind of live stock. 



3. Cattle can be used profitably on low, wet land unsuited for 

 crops or for other kinds of live stock. Cattle also approach sheep in 

 adaptability to arid or rough land not suited to crop production. 



4. Cattle on the farm greatly help to equalize the distribution of 

 farm labor throughout the year. Excepting cows that are milked, 

 cattle require little attention during the summer and fall pasture season 

 when crops need attention. During winter and early spring, farmers 

 can employ their time to advantage in caring for the breeding herd, 

 wintering stockers, or fattening steers. 



5. Cattle products are less subject to seasonal fluctuations in 

 supply and price than those of any other kind of live stock. 



6. Beef cattle require less labor for their care than do other farm 

 animals. 



7. Dairy products remove less fertility from the farm than do 

 other major farm products. / 



The three types of cattle.y-Experience has shown that only a cer- 

 tain kind or type of cow can produce a large flow of milk, and that 

 quite a different kind or type is necessary for efficient beef production. 

 The high-class dairy cow possesses certain well-marked characters 

 which make her useful as a machine for producing milk, and we call 

 this combination of characters dainj type. Likewise, the high-class 

 beef animal has certain well-marked characters which indicate efficiency 

 in converting feed into flesh rather than into milk, and we call this 

 combination of characters heef type. Some breeders have endeavored 

 to establish what is called a dual-purpose type of cattle. They believe 

 there is need of a cow that can produce both beef and milk, and they 

 have, therefore, tried to combine dairy type and beef type as nearly as 

 possible. The dual-purpose cow does not give as much milk as the 



