134 SUCCESSFUL FARMING 



and milk," "milk and beef/ 7 and "milk forms" are used to describe the 

 different types. The milk and beef form is the most generally accepted 

 type and should be the aim of men engaged in the breeding of these cattle. 

 Extreme milk form is usually the result of improper growth on the part 

 of young animals or selection of breeding stock which produces too much 

 refinement. The following quotation characterizes true Holstein type 

 and owners and breeders of Holstein-Friesian cattle base their claim for 

 the superiority of this breed on the following points : 



1. "That the Holstein-Friesian is a large, strong, vigorous cow, full 



of energy and abounding in vitality. 



2. "That her physical organization and digestive capacity is such 



that she is able to turn to the best advantage the roughage 

 of the farm, converting the same into merchantable products. 



3. "That she produces large quantities of most excellent milk fit 



for any and all uses, and fit especially for shipping purposes. 



4. "That heredity is so firmly established through her long lineage 



that she is^able to perpetuate herself through strong, healthy 

 calves. 



5. "And that when, for any reason, her usefulness in the dairy is 



at an end, she fattens readily and makes excellent beef." 

 Cows of this breed should weigh 1200 to 1400 pounds. Mature 

 bulls ordinarily weigh 1900 to 2000 pounds or over. 



Black and white is the characteristic color in America. More or 

 less white should extend below the knee and at least some black should 

 be present where white predominates. The two colors should be 

 distinct from one another. In Holland red and white is characteristic 

 of many cattle of this breed and occasionally in America there are cattle 

 born of this color. Such cattle, however, are not eligible to register in 

 the herd books of the American Holstein-Friesian Association. 



The breed excels in quantity of milk rather than quality, the fat 

 in the milk under ordinary conditions being 3 to 3.5 per cent. A 

 higher test is unreasonable to expect where the large flow of milk 

 characteristic of this breed is maintained. In some instances, the fat 

 falls below 3 per cent, which is regarded as too low, even in cheese 

 districts where this breed is very popular. A low percentage of fat should 

 be avoided by the careful selection of sires whose dams yield milk of a 

 higher percentage of fat. Naturally this breed with its large size and 

 natural tendency to produce milk of low percentage of fat has always 

 excelled all other breeds in milk production. Cows of this breed have 

 in four instances won the championship record for both milk and butter- 

 fat production, and hold the world's record at the present writing, with 

 a production amounting to 28,403.7 pounds of milk testing 4.14 per cent 

 and 1176.47 pounds of butter-fat, made by the cow, Finderne Pride 

 Johanna Rue, 121083, owned by Somerset Holstein Breeders' Company, 

 Somerville, N. J. 



