242 AGRICULTURE FOR COMMON SCHOOLS 



males weighing about 1,800 pounds and females 1,250 pounds. 

 They give a large quantity of milk of fair quality. One of 

 their faults is poorly shaped udders and extremely large 

 teats. The steers fatten well and the cows, after they 

 have ceased to give milk, fatten quickly. The beef is of 

 very good quality. The Red Polled breed is not numerous 

 in the United States, but is becoming more and more 

 popular. 



4. Brown Swiss. — In Switzerland we have some of the 

 oldest records of cattle, their remains being found in the d^ 

 bris of the Lake-dwellers. There are two distinct breeds in 

 Switzerland of about equal importance. One of these, called 

 the Simmenthal, is cream yellow and white in color. Practi- 

 cally none of this breed has been brought to America. The 

 other breed is known as the Brown Swiss and a few herds are 

 to be found in the United States. They range from dark 

 brown to light brown in color, shading to gray along the 

 backbone. The udder is usually white. They are a rather 

 coarse-boned and rough-framed cattle. In weight they are 

 about like the Red Polled. Both breeds of Swiss cattle are 

 famous in their native country for their milk, which produces 

 large quantities of butter and cheese. 



