The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1915-02-26
HOlstein "A Dual Purpose Cow

numerous prizes won by HOlSteinS at
the different fat shows. At the New
York State Fairs of 1889 and 1890,
a Holstein COW won first prize as
the best fat COW Of any age or breed.
Her live weight was 1880 pounds,
and her percentage of dressed weight
when thoroughly cooled was 66.S
per cent or 1896 pounds, percent
age very seldom equaled by individ-
uals of the beef breeds.
In 1896, against very strong compe-
tition from the leading beef breeds,
Holstein COW weighing almost 1000
pounds won first prize as the best
beef COW of any breed at the Min
nesota State Fair.
Summarizing the results Of these
and other tests the result conclusive
ly proves that, contrary to the gen.
eral belief, large and profitable beef
and milk production are correlated to
an astonishing degree. In the Hol-
stein breed, as rule, the greater
the milk producing qualities, the
tion and digestion, the larger and the
more economical the gain of body
weight when dry, the stronger the
constitution, and the more regular
the breeding, all of which qualities
also tend to make beef production
more profitable. A Holstein steer
inherlts from its dam capacity for
assimilating a quantity of feed that
would make the average beef steer
sweat merely to look at. According
to the Wisconsin Dairy Competition,
an average Holstein cow will con-
sumo enough feed above her own
maintenance to produce 1851
pounds of milk solids in a year, or
over three times as much as an aver
age, beef steer will gain in body
weight in the same length Of time.
Holstein Limitations.
While a Holstein steer is without
doubt the most economical producer
of dressed beef, yet 1t is true that
the profitableness Of that breed for
beef is subject to some limitations.
Owing to their relatively heavy body,
their limbs are too light to make
them as we'll fitted for the range as
some other breeds. The fact Is that,
while up to about IS or 20 months
of age Holstein steer will have ap-
proximately the same conformation
and quality as beef steer, yet af-
ter that age he begins to partake
more of the form of dairy steer
and also to lose some of his former
smoothness, so that these steers are
not relatively as profitable when sold
as two or three-year-olds as when
fattened up to sell as baby beef.
Holstein beef possesses the desired |
pale red color and is very well
marbled, although it does not gen.
orally have so much fat as is ex-
hibited by a beef steer. According
to such authorities as Professor |.
P. Roberts and others who have
tested the qualities of both meats,
Holstein beef has superior flavor
to that of the Shorthorn.
One of the most important If not
the chief factor in cattle raising is
that Of prolificacy. In this respect
the Holstein COW is much superior to
any OF the beef breeds, as she is
easier to get into calf, due to her
thinner condition, caused by her
heavy milking qualities, and to the
fact that the breeding qualities of
the Holstein have not been impaired,
as the breed has not been SO highly |
inbred, or subjected to excessive
show-ring fitting and other artificial
as have the beef breeds.
Summarizing all of the results
the fact is clearly proven
that the dual purpose breed is most
lucrative type, and that the theory
that beef and milk production can
not be profitably combined in the
same breed is most erroneous and
,Inralia hla