BREEDING BEEF CATTLE 309 



herits the good grazing and early maturing qualities of the Here- 

 ford and the desirable hind-quarters of the Shorthorn. But it 

 must be understood that this cross-bred offspring should not 

 be used for breeding, no matter how excellent an individual, 

 for the second generation is very likely to inherit the poor 

 qualities or other qualities of both ancestors. 



The dual-purpose cow. — By dual-purpose cow is meant one 

 capable of yielding a good flow of milk, and in which the offspring 

 will make a fair quality of beef as will the cow when dried off. 

 This is the so-called "farmer's cow," concerning the profitable- 

 ness of which there is much discussion. Because of the high 

 price of land over much of the grain belt, it is no longer profit- 

 able to keep a cow merely for the calf she raises. This has led 

 to the opinion that it is possible to develop a strain of dual- or 

 double-purpose cattle, one that while raising a calf that would 

 make a fair quality of beef would also yield milk sufiicient to pay 

 for her keep. 



The demand for such double-purpose animals has led a few 

 of the breeders, of at least three of the established breeds. Short- 

 horn, Red Polled, and Devon, to endeavor to breed such animals. 

 In the breeding of such cattle there are two very pertinent ques- 

 tions to be considered : First, the amount of milk or butter-fat 

 that should be expected; and second, the degree of excellency 

 in beef production that should be sought among the offspring. 

 These questions assume much importance, for, as we have already 

 seen, the type suited to the production of milk is ill adapted to 

 the production of beef, and the type that takes on beef economi- 

 cally is not likely to make good milkers. Dual-purpose cattle 

 breeders vary widely in their opinion as to the amount of milk 

 and fat that should be expected as well as the excellency sought 

 in the calves. While the flow and fat required to make a profit 

 will vary according to conditions, yet if one can secure 5000 to 

 7000 pounds, yielding 200 to 250 pounds of butter-fat yearly, 

 and a calf of sufficient quality to reach a weight of 350 poimds 



