THE DUAL PURPOSE COW 177 



donment of beef cattle breeding and eventually of cattle 

 feeding over a large area of the States is a problem that 

 this generation must meet unless some practicable solu- 

 tion is soon found that will render the business more 

 financially attractive. Other conditions surrounding 

 the industry may change in such a way as to relieve the 

 necessity for change in the type of cattle producing 

 our beef supplies. Students of the situation do not 

 anticipate permanent relief from outside sources. 



It is because of the repeated statements of exper- 

 ienced beef producers and breeders of beef cattle that 

 the future supply of beef cattle must be bred from cows 

 that are milked, that the writer deems it essential to 

 consider briefly the subject of this discussion, leaving 

 the reader to adapt the facts presented to local condi- 

 tions. 



Some of the pertinent points for consideration are: 



1. Can cows be found that will produce an ample 

 milk flow, ample /to throw them into the class of profit- 

 able dairy cows, and at the same time, when bred to 

 bulls of beef breeding produce steers that will make, 

 when properly fattened, a satisfactory grade of beef? 



2. What average capacity for production of milk 

 and butter fat may be reasonably expected of such cows, 

 and the value of such products? 



3. The standard of excellence possible in the steers 

 bred from such cows and the value of the calves pro- 

 duced on supplemented skim-milk. 



4. Knowing approximately present possibilities of 

 production, what is the probable expense including feed 

 and labor of accomplishing certain dual results? 



5. Lastly, what are the possibilities of improvement 

 in performance and economy of production in dual-pur- 

 pose types? It does not fall within the purpose of this 

 discussion to dwell on this latter point. It is a matter 

 for investigators and breeders to determine. There is, 

 of course, some limit to the development of the dual 

 capacity. If that limit has been reached in this country, 



