CHAPTER XVIII. 



AS A GENERAL PURPOSE CATTLE. 



If the Holstein-Friesian is large and makes a good animal ; if she gives 

 immense quantities of rich milk; if her milk makes an abundance of good but- 

 ter and cheese at a low relative cost for food consumed ; if she matures early 

 and breeds freely, then it must be conceded that she is more valuable than the 

 cow that possesses only one or two of these qualities. 



There has been much random talk against the general purpose cow. One 

 says it is a dream not to be realized, another that it is a fraud, and that it does 

 not pay to buy a poor milker for your dairy because she will make good beef 

 when you have milked her eight or ten years. And still another says those 

 looking for the general purpose cow do not seem to realize that the highest 

 excellence has been reached only on the line of specialties, and that we cannot 

 combine the milk form and beef producing form in the same animal any more 

 than we can secure in the same horse the best running form and the best draft 

 form. An able writer and editor of one of our best dairy papers says that a cow 

 must be for one thing or the other, for a special purpose or else a failure, and 

 also that nine-tenths of the farmers want a combination of milk, cheese, butter 

 and beef in the same cow, and that is a humbug. 



What is a general purpose horse ? 



Is it the one that is the fleetest runner, the greatest trotter, the strongest 

 draft, the most stylish carriage horse, all combined ? 



Or is it the horse that excels in none of these specialties, and is more useful 

 than all others, the farm horse, with which to plough, cultivate, harvest and 

 thrash our grain, draw it to the mill, drive twenty or thirty miles a day before 

 buggy or carriage, or saddle and run for the doctor? Will any one say that 

 this horse is a humbug because it is first for no special purpose? 



Put your thoroughbred to a plough, your draft horse under the saddle or 

 before a carriage, your Maud S. to draw a load of grain to the mill, and it will 

 readily be seen that the general purpose horse is superior to any of these for all 

 these uses. 



What is the general purpose cow that nine-tenths of the farmers want? 



Is it one which excels all others in any particular branch, such as producing 

 the greatest quantity or best quality of milk, cheese, butter or beef ? 



Or is it that cow which is profitable for each of these purposes, without 

 excelling in any one ? 



Any breed of cows which can be profitably kept for these various uses 

 deserves the name of general purpose cow. Nine-tenths of the farmers are 

 right in wanting a general purpose cow. 



When the market is glutted with milk cheese can be made, when cheese 

 is low they can make butter, and if by accident a cow is crippled or is 

 getting on in years, she can be profitably turned to beef, as well as her bull 

 calves. 



The wise and prudent farmer, by breeding general purpose cows, runs far 

 less risk than he whose eggs are all in one basket. 



The Holstein-Friesian, whose frame is large and well adapted to producing 

 beef, is also superior for the dairy. This breed is nearly, if not quite, as large 

 as those specially bred for beef, and has excelled all others in early maturity, 

 which is of great advantage to the beef producer. No breed of cattle has ever 

 enjoyed the reputation earned by Holstein-Friesians as great milkers nor as 

 cheese producers. 



The entire province of North Holland is devoted almost exclusively to 

 cheese making, and in Friesland the principal occupation of the people is butter 

 making. 



The Holstein-Friesian also excels as a butter cow. In America many of the 

 largest butter records have been made by them, both individually and also 

 entire herds, when competing with a special purpose cow, and all others, includ- 

 ing the famous Jersey. 



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