88 DAIRY CATTLE AND MILK PRODUCTION 



He is inclined to minimize the dairy part of the dual-purpose, 

 as a rule, but at the same time points to large records 

 which have been made by animals of the breed as proof that 

 the breed has dairy qualities. 



The true dual-purpose type stands about midway between 

 the extremes of the dairy type, or large milk producers, and 

 the beef type with little tendency toward milk production. 

 A dual-purpose cow is one that produces a medium quantity 

 of milk for a dairy cow, and that will sell at a fair price for a 

 beef animal when fattened. A dual-purpose breed is one in 

 which these characteristics are fixed so they are transmitted 

 with reasonable certainty. There is occasionally a dual- 

 purpose Angus or Hereford cow, but these breeds cannot be 

 so classed, for the reason that this characteristic is not trans- 

 mitted. Again we find cows in the dual-purpose breeds that 

 are such remarkable milkers' and show such inferior beef- 

 making characteristics that they should be classed indi- 

 vidually as special dairy animals, and not as dual-purpose. 

 There is such a thing as a dual-purpose cow, if we correctly 

 define the limitations of the term. It must not be expected 

 that a cow of this type will compare as a dairy animal with 

 good individuals of the special dairy breeds, or that her 

 calves will be able to compete in beef production wi^th those 

 of the special beef breeds. A dual-purpose cow should be 

 expected to produce about 200 pounds butter fat per year 

 against about 300 for an equally good specimen of the dairy 

 breed, and her calves should make fair beef animals. 



Adaptation of the Dual-Purpose Cow. The question 

 whether the farmer should breed special-purpose dairy cattle 

 or dual-purpose when dairy products are sold from the farm 

 is one that has called forth endless discussion. The view 



