BREEDS OF BEEF CATTLE IN UNITED STATES 235 



The principal dual-purpose breeds in the United States are 

 certain types of the Shorthorn, together with the Red Polls and 

 Devons. 



Shorthorns. 



The dual-purpose Shorthorn is more popular than any of the 

 other dual-purpose breeds. They respond readily to good treat- 

 ment, and have become exceedingly popular with the small 

 farmer. Formerly these cattle were almost entirely of the 

 Bates strain, but at the present time many of them contain con- 

 siderable Scotch blood. As a breed they are the same as the 

 beef-bred Shorthorns, except that the beefy tendency is not as 

 strongly emphasised. The milking qualities have been devel- 

 oped, and the cows have a conformation approaching the regular 

 dual-purpose form, being longer of limb, higher in flank, larger 

 in barrel and thinner in hams than the beef Shorthorns. The 

 bulls approach the beef type more than the cows, but are lighter 

 in the hindquarter and a little higher in flank and not so heavily 

 fleshed as the strictly beef type. The udder extends high up in 

 the back and well forward, the milk veins are usually very prom- 

 inent, and the teats are medium to large in size and are well set. 

 Calves from the cows by a well-fleshed bull usually grow and 

 fatten well and make a good quality of beef. 



Red Polls. 



The Red Polled cattle originated in England, and were intro- 

 duced into this country in 1873, but few importations were made 

 until about 1885. Since that time many have been imported. 

 This is strictly a dual-purpose breed, and approaches the ideal 

 of the dual-purpose type. In size they are smaller than the 

 beef breeds, and have not the thick covering of flesh. Mature 

 bulls weigh fronl 1700 to 2100 lbs. or more, and the cows from 

 1100 to 1350 lbs. or more. Occasionally very heavy individuals 

 are found, but these are the exception and not the rule. 



The cattle of this breed are fair gi-azers, ranking with or 

 slightly ahead of the Shorthorns but not equal to the Devon or 

 Hereford. They are very prepotent and give uniformity in off- 

 spring when bred to native cows. Like all dual-purpose breeds, 

 it has been hard to fix or to hold a uniform type, as many 

 breeders incline to beef production, while others try to develop 

 the milking qualities to the detriment of the beef form. 



