CHAPTER XLI 



DUAL-PURPOSE TYPE OF CATTLE 



Dual-purpose and general-purpose type of cattle mean the same 

 thing. This comes in between the beef and dairy type, combin- 

 ing in one animal the valuable qualities of meat and dairy types. 

 This class has been under special discussion for some years, and 

 strong arguments have been advanced in its behalf. It is not 

 proposed to go into a detailed discussion of this type, — it is 

 not necessary, — but rather to emphasize the essential features. 



The dual-purpose and the beef type compared show certain 

 marked differences. The dual-purpose animal lacks the width 

 and smoothness of the beef type, carries less flesh, shows more 

 neck, narrower withers, and more length of leg. There is more 

 general length of body. With the cows the udder is most essen- 

 tial in true specimens of the dual-purpose type, milk production 

 being important. 



The dual-purpose and dairy type compared show the former 

 to be fuller in the bosom, more massive, broader backed, thicker 

 at withers, smoother of shoulder, thicker and heavier at hind 

 quarter and twist, and tending to shortness of leg. The form 

 is generally smoother and much less angular, and carries more 

 flesh. When in high milk flow dual-purpose cows often lose flesh 

 and incline to the dairy conformation, but on drying off they 

 flesh up to a notable degree. 



Two classes of dual-purpose cattle are common, one rather 

 beefy in character, with small udders, the other with strong 

 dairy-type indications. Every large show of dual-purpose breeds 

 contains good representatives of these two classes. For exam- 

 ple, the Devon, a dual-purpose breed, contains the two classes 

 in a marked degree. The dairy sort is more popular in the east- 

 ern states, the beef in the West. The same applies to a certain 

 extent also to the Red Polled breed, though perhaps not to 50 



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