librarian
Well-known member
I have been methodically studying the 1920's Shorthorn World and aj is right about the cattle being pretty large back then.
http://books.google.com/books?id=cR45AQAAMAAJ&dq=dual%20purpose%20Shorthorn&pg=RA3-PA18#v=onepage&q=dual%20purpose%20Shorthorn&f=false another
And another "true dual purpose type"
http://books.google.com/books?id=cR45AQAAMAAJ&dq=dual%20purpose%20Shorthorn&pg=RA5-PA22#v=onepage&q=dual%20purpose%20Shorthorn&f=false
The rationale for this type of cow seems to be that the movement to build farms in the West requires a weekly cream check to get the producer through the year until the beef calves can be sold. I can see how there would be a reason to adjust the weight of these cows downward, but....
How and When did the dwarfing of beef breeds really get started?
And, most of all, Why?
http://books.google.com/books?id=cR45AQAAMAAJ&dq=dual%20purpose%20Shorthorn&pg=RA3-PA18#v=onepage&q=dual%20purpose%20Shorthorn&f=false another
And another "true dual purpose type"
http://books.google.com/books?id=cR45AQAAMAAJ&dq=dual%20purpose%20Shorthorn&pg=RA5-PA22#v=onepage&q=dual%20purpose%20Shorthorn&f=false
The rationale for this type of cow seems to be that the movement to build farms in the West requires a weekly cream check to get the producer through the year until the beef calves can be sold. I can see how there would be a reason to adjust the weight of these cows downward, but....
How and When did the dwarfing of beef breeds really get started?
And, most of all, Why?