The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-03
The Holsteins as neral-Purpose Cattle,

| Philadelphia Record.
Whether any particular breed can lay claim
to the distinction of general purpose cattle" re-
| mains In dispute Our breeders have so sepa-
rated the numerous breeds as to give each its
| particular place and classification, with but one
duty to perform in which it should excel, and
restricting none in its capacity as milk. beef or
| butter producers. But while the general pur-
| pose cow must be one that completely fulfils all
expectations, there are cases in which ays-
| proach to the various requisites may single ont
one particular breed as best suited-and thas
breed is the Hostein.
To award the palm of merit to any particular
breed is to create an opposition to such claims
on the part of rivals, and the advantages pos
sessed by the Holsteins must be claimed onlS
upon their records and performances AS but
ter producers they have challenged the JERSEYS
and even held the lead over them for awhile az
may be cited in the case of Mercedes: and in
their records as butter producers for long
period OF time they are still superior to the
Jerseys. But it must be admitted that tbe
latter are. without. doubt the best butter
producers as class, and the breeders of tho
Holsteins satisfied with being able ia
strongly compete with the Jerseys. AS milf
producers the Holsteins have no equal, that
quality being the one particular point in which
they excel. With records SO close TO one nun
dred pounds of milk daily as to make it possible
that hundreds of cows will soon exceed thas
quantity, and with butter records as high as
thirty pounds per week. the breed may rightly
be classed as general purpose" for the dairy
And in addition it also invades the dominions Of
the Shorthorn and Hereford, and completes with
them in beef production.
Several enterprising breeders have caused valz
liable animals to be slaughtered in order to test
the value of the breed for beef. A three-year-
old recorded bull weighed, alive, day of kill
ing, 2, 290 pounds, and dressed l. 430 pounds, and
after deducting tallow the percentage of offaf
was only 26. The calves of the HolsterIs make
remarkable growth, Black Prince, owned in New
York. making in twefty-one days gain of 148
pounds, or at the rate of seven pounds daiiys
and it is not unusual for them to gam 100 pounds
per month on an average for herd ExtraUfs
binary growth is common, calves at six months
old often weighing 600 pounds, while Jaap Atm,
at eleven months weighed 1900 pounds. A lot
of yearihg heifers averaged 1924 pounds, and
that, too, after undergoing an ocean voyage.
Here we have. in the Holstein, not only tha
ability to produce large amounts of butter, but
to yield milk heavily, we'll to make rapid
gain in weight at all ages and stages of growth.
They certainly come near being general
purpose breed as could be expected, and ahswer
the purpose of all classes of farmers. 1t is noe
claimed that the Holsteins are beef-producihg
breed That honor belongs elsewhere. Their
chief characteristic is the giving of large QUAINT
ties of milk, but in addition to that quality they
possess value as butter and beef producers that
adds to their usefulness in more ways than one,
and this combination is not to be found in any
other breed in such excellence. While the ideal
general purpose animal cannot be correctly de-
scribed in such terms as to satisfy the desires Of
all. yet breed that combines these three great
essentials in successful cattle rasing-milk
butter and beef-so closely to rival the breede
that excel in certain lines of production is SURELY
entitled to the distinction of general purpose