GENERAL MANAGEMENT 427 



which overcomes lack of capacity either for the breeder 

 or for the dairyman. 



513. The general-purpose cow. — ^The "general-pur- 

 pose" cow has been much discussed in recent years. 

 While her specifications have never been fully and clearly 

 set forth, it is supposed that she is an animal reasonably 

 profitable along both beef and milk lines. It is doubtful 

 whether such a cow, even if she exists, is one adapted to 

 general utility. There are few localities where milk is 

 not more profitable than beef or beef more profitable 

 than milk, and whichever is the more profitable should 

 be produced by an animal of specialized 'capacity. Any 

 extra value which the calf's or the cow's carcass may have 

 when^ flesh-forming tendencies are prominent, will gen- 

 erally come far short of compensating for a merely medi- 

 ocre milk yield in those localities where there is a market 

 for milk and its products; and the stockman who is 

 endeavoring to put on the market beef animals of the 

 highest quality cannot afford to compromise with dairy 

 qualities. Milk formation and flesh formation are antag- 

 onistic, and not correlated, fimctions, both of which do 

 not operate intensely in the same individual. At present 

 we have no breed or fixed type of animals that can be 

 regarded as presenting and perpetuating "general-pur- 

 pose" qualities. Such a type, if found at all, must be 

 sought among individuals. 



514. The selection of animals for meat production.^ 

 It is generally conceded that the selection of breeds of the 

 beef and mutton types is essential to the highest success 

 in the production of meat. This is true with steers, not 

 because those from the dairy breeds will make very 

 much slower growth than Shorthorns or Herefords, for 

 this does not seem to be the fact, but because the quality 



