Dairy Suggestions from Europe. 



203 



One of the most interesting features of the trip through Holland 

 was a visit to the farm of ]\Ir. Kuperus. For many years this gentleman 

 has been one of the largest exporters of IIolstein-Friesian cattle to the 

 United States and elsewhere. He has an exceptionally fine herd of 

 dairy cattle and keeps a careful record of each cow in the herd by 

 testing the milk every two weeks. The average yield of thirty of his 

 best cows for one year was 11,275 pounds of milk and 394 pounds of 

 butter fat. The average lactation period was 306 days and no cow was 

 milked more than one year. His best cow gave, in 329 days, 18,986 

 pounds of milk and 585 pounds of butter fat. He has one cow with an 

 average test for the year of 3.89 per cent, butter fat. This shows some- 

 thing of the character of the cattle that Mr. Kuperus is breeding, and it 

 is not strange that he has won many prizes at the different agricultural 

 shows where he has exhibited. 



The cows are brought into a small pasture at milking time. As soon as drawn, the milk 

 is transported to the cheese factory in the cans on the dog cart at the gate. 



At the present time there are over 250,000 cows in Friesland, 15,- 

 000 of which are registered. Test associations started in the province 

 of Friesland eight years ago, and today there are over two hundred of 

 these associations, having twelve members each. 



Cattle markets are held once a week in many of the towns. One 

 section of the market is devoted to discarded dairy cows which are sold 

 for beef. Another section is devoted to springers and cows in milk, 

 which are to be sold to dairymen in South Holland. The cows sold 

 on these markets are usually of an inferior quality. At Leeuwarden 

 there was a large market for heifer calves, which go to South Holland 



