Monte Vista journal and Monte Vista graphic-reporter., 1924-01-25
The Shortholrn As A
Dual Purpose Animal

line animal. which may be either
for beef or for milk production. and
the dual-purpose animal which en-
bodies most OF the qualities OF the
beef animal as well as being worth
while producer at the pail. Of
course, we would not expect to find
such a high degree of development
in dual-purpose animal in both
lines OF beef and milk as We would
in a noted representative of either
of the special-purpose classes. There
is happy medium as in the case OF
Cherry Blossom of the Prairiedale
herd OF Fremont. Ohio. who gave
Sl59 pounds of milk with her third
calf and was sold I. the butcher at
five years of age. She dressed 1864
pounds with dressing percentage
of 64.5G. She was bought as calf
for s7l.00 and to date her owner
has sold 100000 of produce from
her and has two of her calves left
in his herd.
Now. 5000 pounds OF milk is no
outstanding record for a dairy COW,
but even that production at the
prevailing retail price of milk
would amount to better than $3.50;
and as beef animal. Cherry Bios
som is well up to the head of the list
as dressing weight OF over 900
pounds and dressing percentage of
better than SAY is rather excep-
tional. especially ''e percentage.
even for strictly beef cows of that
age. However, we have known the
above record duplicated on several
occasions and exceeded a few times
by the Shorthorn breed OF cattle.
On a par with the above animal. is
the registered herd of Shorthorn
cows owned by the Agricultural col
lege. Manhattan, Kansas There is
quite sprinklins OF Scotch blood
in this herd, yet In view of the
fact that the animals are all big.
deep-bodied. short-lcgged. individ-
uals and not bred especially for
milk production. still We are told
the majority OF them are good
enough mixers to qualify as Record
OF Merit cows. A wonderful combi-
nation: beef. milk. and with It
plenty Of size; and this. by the way.
Is exactly our idea OF not only the
Shorthorn as breed but also the
type OF animal for the farmer OF
today
Prof. n. l.. Garrisus. head of the
department OF Anima, Husbandry.
Conn. Agricultural College. said. at
the last International. II believe
that for the farmer. the high special
ization In beef animals or dairy
animals is mistake. Great Britain
never made th. mistake of high
specialization In beef animals or In
dairy animals on the farms and she
produces more milk per COW on the
average than Denmark. Germany.
Canada, Norway or the United
s'i"t'S 'nihN u u UiIstdkt 10 Try
To drive out the cattle that made
money for our ancestors and will III
into our own scheme OF agriculture
most profitably. Anyone who now
attempts to rule out dual-purpose
cattle ms non--Sistent has stub
born struggle with facts The ma
3ority OF American farmers, ax we'll
AS OF British farmers. and farmers
wherever dual-purpose cows have
any chance at all know better"
That the duai-purpose cow Ia
popular In United States is cvidenc-
cd by the fact that at the Milking
Shorthorn sale held at the recent
International. 30 head sold at an
average of &.si75.
The question has been asked. Can
n dual purpose Shorthorn produce
high quality beef steer. We can
only answer this by saying that at
the recent International. fat steers
from such cows have stood well up
'h WV ''u''Nsrs ""a
nurse cows either. Al the National
Western Stock Show. In the car lot
classes. the Shorthorns have won
first place twice In the past fous
years. Coming n little closcr home.
Mr.. J. $. Wilkinson recently sold
bunch Of shorthorn steers rang.
Ing from twelve 10 sixteen months
OF age at an average price Of t<5.Vs
and some Of these steers were
bucket fed. their mothers having
been good enough producers at the
pail To net MIR. Wilkinson = nice
little income as dairy cows.
Some breeders would like 10
classify the shorthorn breed ~ he.
Ing made up Of three different sub
breeds: beef. milk and duai-purpose
which nilwhf he ali we'll and Rond n