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HOLSTEIN-FRIESIAN CATTLE. 



We are aware that the mere presentation of this symposium to our readers 

 will subject us to criticism on the part of so-called "special purpose cow" 

 champions, who believe that it is essential that a good dairy cow should be 

 utterly worthless for beef, and that her calves of either sex should be equally 

 worthless for veal when young, or for beef when older. We confess to a firm 

 belief in the idea of breeding for a special purpose, but we do not intend to allow 

 the belief to close our eyes to facts and to evidence, and that in the Holstein- 

 Friesian cow the very highest dairy quality exists, together with the power to 

 take on flesh readily when dry, and to produce a calf superior to the calves of 

 any other breed, for beef, is a fact fully established by indisputable evidence. 



What the farmer wants is the cow that will bring him the most net cash. 

 He cares not whether it is called a special or general purpose cow. To any such 

 farmer seeking light as to the best breed for his purpose, we would ask these 

 questions : Of two cows of different breeds, each netting her owner the same 

 amount from dairy products annually, is it really a disadvantage to one cow 

 that if she loses her udder she will bring for beef $25 more than the other ? 

 Of two such cows, is it really a disadvantage to one that she will produce a calf 

 capable of being vealed at a handsome profit ? Is it really a disadvantage to 

 a dairy breed that any of its two-year-old heifers proving unsatisfactory in the 

 dairy (and there is no breeder of any breed who does not occasionally draw a 

 blank) can be beefed for a remunerative price? Special purpose champions are 

 too prone to assume that all calves will be heifers, and all heifers profitable cows, 

 and all cows endure the work of the dairy to good old age. They are also fond 

 of assuming that the highest dairy quality is entirely incompatible with any 

 beef producing capacity. To a very important extent the facts are against them. 



The late Dudley Miller, the widely known fancier and expert in Holstein- 

 Friesian cattle, writing in February, 1886, says: "No breed of cattle is superior 

 to the Holstein-Friesian for veal; and they and their grades make most excel- 

 lent beef; juicy, tender and well interlarded with fat. 



"The weight of full blood and grade steers at a year and a half or two 

 years old can be put at 1,200 to 1,500 Ibs., consequently they can be made to show 

 a handsome profit when bred for beef. 



* "At birth calves weigh from 80 to 125 Ibs. and much heavier are mentioned, 

 but 100 Ibs. is not unusual. Cows should weigh 1,200 to 1,400 Ibs. and frequently 

 reach 1,600 to 1,800 Ibs., and some as high as 2,000 and 2,100 Ibs. Bulls and steers 



JACOB 3D. FROM A HOLLAND PHOTOGRAPH. 



Grandson of Rooker and out of Trintje, No. 35 N. H. B., and the sire of Neptune, De Ruiter, Jacob Wit, 

 Jacob 3d, the great sires of the Aaggie family. 



