BREEDS OF CATTLE 31 



weight of the cows is 650 pounds. The color is black with 

 a little white on the udder and underline. Another some- 

 what larger type of this breed is known as the Dexter Kerry. 

 A Jew small herds are to be found in the Eastern States. 

 Th< - cows produce a large amount of milk for their size. The 

 miliv averages about 4 per cent of fat. 



DUAL-PURPOSE BREEDS 



27. Dual-purpose. The term dual-purpose is used to 

 describe those breeds of cattle kept for both milk and beef, 

 in contrast with the more specialized breeds, which are 

 kept primarily for either milk or beef alone. All dairy breeds 

 ha\ e some value for beef, and all beef breeds are sometimes 

 used for milk. The real dual-purpose cow stands about 

 midway between the dairy type and the beef type. 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 in 

 milk production, or that her calves can compete in beef pro- 

 duction with those from the special beef breeds. A dual- 

 purpose cow should be expected to produce about 200 pounds 

 of butter-fat per year as against about 300 for an equally good 

 specimen of a special dairy breed, and her calves should make 

 fair beef. 



Dual-purpose breeds have been in favor in many sections 

 of the United States especially in the corn belt. The dual- 

 purpose breeds are less economical producers of dairy prod- 

 ucts than the special dairy breeds and for this reason should 

 not be chosen by the man who is making dairying an impor- 

 tant part of his farming operations. If the dual-purpose cow 

 is to be used at all, it should be on the general farm in the 

 com belt where cream is sold and skim-milk is available for 

 feeding calves and pigs, and where the abundance of roughage 



