160 BEEF PRODUCTION 



policy of the breeder of market beef cattle to use high- 

 grade cows of some one of the beef breeds. The owners 

 of herds of scrub or common cows may accomplish this 

 end either by selling out and purchasing high-grade 

 females or by grading up from the cows already on hand 

 by successive crosses of beef bulls of approved merit. 

 Where the financial circumstances of the breeder will 

 permit of the former plan it is unquestionably the most 

 rapid and satisfactory means of arriving at the end 

 sought. Whether Herefortls, Aberdeen-Angus, Short- 

 horns, Galloways, or Polled Durhams should be selected 

 will depend upon the breeder's personal preference and 

 the conditions which prevail. Good individuals of any 

 of these breeds if properly mated will give satisfactory 

 returns. Each breed has its peculiar advantages and 

 when these are understood and recognized there exist 

 good arguments in favor of each. The Herefords are 

 excellent grazers and mature early. The Aberdeen- 

 Angus produce high quality of beef and are much sought 

 in our markets as fat cattle. Their hornless character 

 recommends them to those desiring a polled race. The 

 Shorthorns nick well with common cattle and other beef 

 breeds. They are widely distributed, easily available, 

 and quiet in disposition. Galloways are hardy and pro- 

 duce high quality of beef. They are hornless. The 

 Polled Durhams resemble the Shorthorns in appearance 

 and characteristics and are preferred to Shorthorns by 

 some because of their being polled. As has been stated^ 

 high grades of any of these breeds will prove satisfactory; 

 however, they have characteristic differences in form 

 and development which render it advisable not to have 

 the cow stock partly of one breed and partly of another. 

 In the interest of uniformity all should be grades of the 

 same breed. It is not so important to select a particular 

 breed as to secure choice individuals of whatever breed 

 seems most desirable under the circumstances. The 

 fact that a cow or heifer is a high grade of some one of 

 the beef breeds does not in itself insure satisfactory qual- 



