BREEDING BEEF CATTLE 159 



markets. It is true that each small producer has no 

 identity nor is by himself to be considered an important 

 factor in the production of the world's supply of beef, 

 or, in other words, he or even a large number of such 

 producers could discontinue their small operations with- 

 out its producing even a ripple in the market. It is not 

 from the standpoint of the influence of such individuals 

 upon the market that this subject is to be discussed, but 

 rather from the standpoint of these small producers, who, 

 in the opinion of the writer, will become more, rather 

 than less, numerous, and hence constitute a more impor- 

 tant factor in the meat trade. We have shown how a 

 very large number of fanners are producers of beef cat- 

 tle, and while a large percentage produce only a few 

 head each year, those few head must of necessity be 

 either profitable or unprofitable to them. They must 

 consume farm products which should be consumed by 

 cattle which will pay the highest market prices for them. 

 Well-bred cattle of the beef type only will do this if the 

 primary object in view is the production of beef. If 

 combined beef and milk is the object sought, then the 

 dual purpose type should be selected. It is the purpose 

 to discuss at this point the question of breeding cattle 

 where beef production is the primary object, leaving for 

 a subsequent discussion the question of the dual purpose 

 cow in her relation to beef production. 



SELECTION OF COWS AND HEIFERS 

 Undoubtedly the selection of the bull to head a herd 

 is of much greater importance than the selection of the 

 females composing the herd. However, it has seemed 

 to the writer that not enough importance is attached to 

 the selection of the cows. While good steers may result 

 from mating common cows with a well-bred beef bull, 

 better ones are secured from well-bred cows, and there 

 are fewer common steers resulting from such a mating. 

 If common cows are used, common steers will surely 

 be bred all too frequently. It should therefore be the 



